From the Beverly Hills Sunset Surgery Center in Valiant Clinic by Meraas, the board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Whitney Burrell explained how Botox could be a 2-in-1 remedy.
AM: What are the main reasons of migraines?
That’s a million dollar question. No one knows for sure. A migraine is a headache that can be accompanied by sensory changes and can last from minutes to days. Some theories as to why this happens include vessel spasms brought on by different foods or stress, erratic nerve activity, or biochemical disruption caused by hormonal changes.
AM: So how does Botox treat migraines exactly?
Botox disrupts communication of the trigeminal and cervical spinal nerves that lie outside the skull. This disruption of communication breaks the cycle of agitation and erratic neuro activity that can perpetuate a migraine attack.
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| Doctor Whitney Burrell |
Botox has been shown to decrease the frequency of migraines starting two to three weeks after the first injection. It is rare that the migraines go away completely. Botox itself only lasts three to six months, so it is hardly a permanent fix and must be repeated usually every three months.
AM: Why should a patient go for Botox?
The “traditional” solutions for migraines look a lot like common sense methods of self-care: get enough sleep, manage stress, stay hydrated, don’t smoke, don’t drink too much alcohol. However, if someone is still getting migraines eight or more days out of the month, Botox injections are warranted.
AM: Finally, what are the pre-procedure requirements?
Injection session mandates no NSAIDs (usually ibuprofen or aspirin) for seven days prior. This is to mitigate the risk of bleeding and bruising. Aside from that, there is special preparation required.