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Does Botox Treat Migraines and Wrinkles at the Same Time?

My doctor said he can treat my migraines at the same time I get my cosmetic Botox injections. Is this true?

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face migraine

Botox for treating migraines

While Botox is being used to treat headaches, we currently do not mix the cosmetic uses of Botox for wrinkles with the more clinical uses like headaches. For alternative therapies unrelated to the cosmetic usage of Botox, we refer to a local neurologist. We wonder if your physician is a neurologist or has any experience or training using Botox for non-cosmetic purposes. If so, great!

Doctor's Website

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox for wrinkles and migraines works for me

I have been treating myself with Botox for many, many years to prevent ocular migraines. When I get migraines, I get "ocular" migraines. This means I have vision problems, loss of vision, and shooting lights when I get a migraine. I can always tell when the Botox is wearing off because my migraines come back. I treat many patients for migraines with Botox and in most people, it is beneficial. There are different places to inject when treating for migraines, as opposed to treating... more

Jonathan Hoenig, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon

Botox and Migraines

I am one of the first doctors who reported that Botox can be effective in the treatment of migraine headache and I am probably the best known for this in the world. Unfortunately, I am also the first ever to be sued for this (I did win in court). While many patients who experience migraine headaches have reported improvement following Botox treatment for wrinkles, the specific injection pattern for Botox migraine treatment is quite different than what we use for wrinkle reduction. While you... more

Arnold W. Klein, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox can help certain migraines and will paralyze the...

Botox can help certain migraines and will paralyze the muscles which cause facial wrinkles. Migraines which begin in the forehead or around the eyes respond to Botox the best. There is a sensory nerve which runs within a muscle deep to the eyebrow near the bridge of the nose. The theory is that muscle contraction irritates the nerve, which causes the migraines. Paralyzing the muscle prevents the nerve irritation and eliminates the cause of the migraines. Unfortunately not every person will... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Botox and headaches

Headaches can have many origins including starting in nerves, muscle, and blood vessels. Patients often note that their headaches are less frequent when they get Botox injections. The injections for migraines are in areas where Botox is typically not used for wrinkle relaxation. If your primary goal is to treat the headaches then you must speak with a neurologist.

Pramit Malhotra, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Yes, this is true. Botox is a useful treatment for...

Yes, this is true. Botox is a useful treatment for migraines in some patients. However, the important thing to remember is that the precise location of injections is different when it is being used for migraines and when it is being used cosmetically to reduce wrinkles. In my practice, some people who get tension headaches have reported to me that their tension headaches are reduced after they have Botox cosmetic injections.

Jordana Gilman, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Taking Care of Two Birds with One Stone - Botox for migraines and wrinkles

Hi Jeane, Studies have found that patients treated with Botox have decreased frequency of their migraine headaches, as well as less severity if they do get the headache. By treating the brow muscles (corrugators) and adding a little Botox to the upper forehead, your wrinkles and headaches can be improved with the same treatment. Good luck.

Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox has more than one approved indication

The use of botulinum toxin (Botox®) for the treatment of migraine headache disorders has been publicized in both the lay press and the medical literature. This represents a novel and sometimes effective approach to treating this disorder, as opposed to other types of drugs. Botox® used in such treatments would constitute an off-label use of the product. Allergan, the maker of Botox® has several approved indications for the product, both for functional disorders (Botox®) and... more

Mark L. Jewell, MD

Eugene Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Botox and migraines

Despite what you read, Botox cannot cure migraines. A migraine headache is due to a vascular spasm deep in your skull. It is not reachable by Botox. Botox causes temporary paralysis of the muscles it is injected into. In proper hands, it is very safe and works very, very well. Botox can be used to treat some types of tension headaches by paralyzing the muscles that are unnaturally tight causing the headaches.

Robert Steely, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

Reating Migranes with Botox

Treatment of migranes is a very individualized process. The first step is to see a qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeon that can understand and guide you through the multiple surgical and nonsurgical options. The patient must present with an active migrane. Only migranes that are triggered by compression of peripheral nerves can be treated with botox, luckily at least in my practice this includes the majority. A plastic surgeon with craniofacial experience can... more

Rian Maercks, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

Botox for Migraines

Yes, botox has been shown to reduced the intensity and the incidence of migraines. It doesn't work for every single patient. Go ahead, get your wrinkles treated and if the treatment is in the same area where you feel the pain of a migraine you may find that you get an improvement in that as well. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD

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Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

It is nice to have a headache treatment that produces POSITIVE side effects.

BOTOX® for the treatment of migraine and other headaches was discovered when some patients treated with BOTOX® for cosmetic purposes [for example, frown lines and crow's feet] returned to their physicians and reported that the severity and/or frequency of their headaches had declined since their BOTOX® treatment. Eventually, research was done which confirmed these early observations by patients. As one if my patients remarked: "It is nice to have a headache... more

Kevin C. Smith, MD

Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox Treatment And Migraine Headache Benefit

I happen to have a good cohort of patients in my practice that get significant relief in their migraine headaches as a result of Botox injections along the lower forehead region. This happens to be one of the side benefits of cosmetic Botox use.

John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

BOTOX and migraines

BOTOX is approved for treating facial wrinkles as well as migraines. I have had many patients who are receiving cosmetic BOTOX who have noticed a reduction in the number and severity of migraines.

Benjamin Barankin, MD

Toronto Dermatologist

Botox treating migraines and wrinkles at the same time

The study and treatment of headaches is complex and justifiably is a sub specialty of Neurology. We tend to call every headache a migraine. That is clearly NOT the case. Migraines have different triggering events and different manifestations than do other headaches. If YOUR headaches are caused by muscle tension and spasms, they MAY be improved or prevented by relaxation of those muscles. But there is NO guarantee that would happen in the course of treating facial and forehead wrinkles... more