Botox for migraines. Why can't my doctor put the injections into my 11s?

One of
your problems is aesthetic, whereas the other is medical. Treating your
migraines with Botox is a medical solution, and the 11's are an aesthetic
concern. Different areas are injected for different concerns and your Doctor''s technique lies within administering the substance for medical
reasons only. To inject your 11's would be unethical and could cause you
further aesthetic problems. If they are not trained in this technique, they
wouldn't know where the Botox should be injected or how much of the substance
they should be using. As a result, you could end up with a very unnatural,
asymmetrical appearance and the possibility of droopy eyelids. To get the
best of both worlds you would have to see a specialist aesthetic
practitioner to address the 11's separately. Think of it like this... you
wouldn't put your pinks in the washing machine with your whites just because
they use the same substance and the same machine.

Your Kaiser plan cover's the area for medical necessity. When you start to have the injections for cosmetic purposes you would likely need to pay an out of pocket cost.  It is possible that the doctor is not comfortable with the cosmetic application.  In that case, I'm sure you could find a well trained doctor or nurse injector that can take care of the cosmetic "11's", you'll simply have to pay for it.  Be well!

Treating migraines with Botox generally means Botox can be injected into the forehead, around the ear, back of the head, and neck muscles. I'm not sure what you mean by your body will eventually reject the medication. It may be that your Doctor isn't trained in treating the glabella area cosmetically, which requires a specific series of injections. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Botox can be used both to treat medical concerns as well as cosmetic concerns. If your injector has not been trained it is best to see another injector for the cosmetic portion. Some insurance carriers will cover Botox for medical reasons, but the cosmetic treatment is not. Having the cosmetic treatment will not cause your body to "reject" the migraine treatment.

thanks for your enquiry. this sounds a little confusing as part of the protocol for treating migraine with botulinum toxin includes the muscles in the forehead, which would treat the 11s. In fact, it was the Drs. Carruthers, in Vancouver who noticed that treating the forehead for cosmetic reasons caused a reduction in headaches in their patients with migraine - then it was introduced as a treatment for migraine. so, for the treatment to have its best results, this area should be included in your treatment.