Botulinum toxin injectables are famous for their anti-wrinkle effects. But it is a little-known fact that Botulinum toxin (better known under the brand name Botox) has also been approved by FDA in 2010 for migraine treatment. In this article, we explain why you should choose Botox for migraines. We will try to answer some of your questions about Botox, from how it works to what to expect after the treatment. Stay with us if you are curious about the only FDA-approved treatment for chronic migraines.
How to Get Rid of Migraine?
If you have experienced migraines, you probably have tried remedies such as caffeine, ginger, and OTC painkillers to manage the situation. However, these methods do not reduce the number of migraine attacks. That is why you need a treatment plan.
Identifying the type of migraine and its triggers is the first step in your treatment plan. There are medical solutions that prevent migraine development. Your doctor might suggest Botox treatment if you have tried every medication out there and still suffer from severe attacks.
How Does Botox Help Migraines?
If you have chronic headaches for more than 15 days in a month, a tiny dose of purified botulinum toxin can go a long way! This toxin is injected around the neck and head and blocks the release of pain signals.
Every time you get an injection, it usually lasts for about three months. However, you should know that the full effect of this treatment happens after a couple of sessions. So, you can expect the maximum result after the third session of Botox injection.
At the end of the day, its effect is different for every individual. One might stop getting the injections after one or two sessions and feel much less frequent headaches. On the other hand, another person might need frequent sessions constantly to manage the condition.
What to Expect During the Procedure?
Your appointment shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes. Your doctor will use a very small needle and inject seven areas more than 30 times. These areas might include your forehead, temples, back of head and neck, and other trigger points from where the pain starts. You might experience a sore neck afterward. It is ok, an ice pack is all you need to reduce that pain.
What Are the Risks of Botox for Migraines?
Injecting Botox is forbidden for pregnant women, nursing mothers, or people who are allergic to proteins in cow’s milk. John Hopkins Medicine lists common side effects of this procedure as:
- Pain & bruising
- Swelling
- Headache or flulike symptoms
- Dry or watering eyes
- Drooping
- Drooling
More serious symptoms also occur when toxin spreads into the body. That is why we recommend you choose a licensed and experienced aesthetic specialist who performs a safe procedure. You should call your doctor immediately if you have:
- Difficulty breathing;
- Trouble speaking or swallowing;
- Problems in your vision;
- Muscle weakness; and
- Inability to control your bladder.
Does Insurance Pay for Botox Treatment?
Since injecting botulinum toxin for treating chronic migraine is an FDA-approved treatment, it could be covered by many insurances, even Medicare and Medicaid. However, you must have tried other treatments such as anti-seizure, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications first. If you have proven that these treatments have failed, the insurance could approve the Botox treatment.
Conclusion
In this article, we explained why you should choose Botox for migraines. It is an FDA-approved procedure that can help you avoid severe migraine attacks. It also has a very simple procedure. You just need to trust a licensed, experienced doctor who has long been performing this treatment safely and successfully.
At Beverly Wilshire Aesthetics, Dr. Behnoosh Zarrini is a board-certified MD who has years of experience in carrying out successful Botox procedures. Contact us today to learn how we can help to ease your pain!