Can Botox Actually Help My Migraines?

Botox® is most well-known as an anti-aging treatment for wrinkles. More recently, the formulation of Botox widely used to limit the appearance of crow’s feet and forehead lines received FDA approval as a treatment for chronic migraines. 

Dr. Michael Nichols and the staff at Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi offer cosmetic treatments, including Botox, but here want to highlight another use for this popular injectable.

Dr. Nichols, a board-certified surgeon, is highly qualified and trained, and you can feel confident in his care, whether you’re considering injections to improve your appearance or to relieve your pain caused by migraines. 

What’s botulinum toxin? 

Botulinum toxin type A is the active ingredient in Botox. It’s a neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It causes a disease called botulism, which is a rare and serious type of food poisoning. 

You’re in no danger of getting sick from Botox injections. The neurotoxin dose is a carefully controlled amount sufficient to disrupt nerve signals.

When you get injections to limit the appearance of wrinkles, the neurotoxin disrupts the signals that cause muscles to contract and wrinkles to form. When you get Botox to treat chronic migraines, the neurotoxin disrupts the transmission of pain signals. 

What to expect 

Botox injections to treat migraines involve around 30 small injections at various places on your face, neck, and head. In most cases, we schedule your injections every 10-12 weeks. Each treatment takes about 20 minutes. 

Although 30 injections may seem intimidating, it may help to understand that the needles are tiny, and the sensation may feel more like a pinprick. 

It may take as long as six months before you begin to notice a decrease in the number of migraines you experience, although some people can tell a difference within a few weeks. 

The good news is that 70% of people who receive Botox injections to treat their migraines report having these headaches half as frequently after five treatments, and about half had 50% fewer headaches after just two treatments. 

Some people also reported that the headaches they did experience were less severe once they began Botox treatments, or that the headaches didn’t last as long. 

Find out more

If you’d like to learn more about Botox for treating chronic migraines or to see if you’re a candidate, call our Flowood, Mississippi, office at 601-420-3223 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nichols. He’s happy to discuss your treatment options and answer your questions.