Botox for Migraine Headaches

We understand migraines can be a debilitating condition. It can severely impact your quality of life.

Migraines affect 1 in 4 households in the United States, and they are the 4th most common reason patients go to the emergency room.

The treatment of migraines can be difficult and frustrating. Numerous medications are effective in the treatment of migraines, but many have side effects.

For those patients that have not had relief with medications or might have side effects from their medications, Botox is an effective non-surgical treatment option for chronic migraine headaches.

The top aesthetic destination of the south, Carolina Facial Plastics, is led by double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh. All of our injectable treatments are performed by our qualified, experienced staff that includes Heather Bryant, MPAS, PA-C, Amanda Piligian, PA-C, and Courtney Whitley, FNP-C.

With his team of cosmetic experts, a fully accredited surgery center, and a private recovery retreat all located in the heart of SouthPark, Carolina Facial Plastics is known for unparalleled and natural-looking results exclusively for the face.

In the 1990s, a group of patients receiving Botox for aesthetic reasons reported an improvement of their migraine headaches. These reports lead to in-depth scientific research and clinical trials.

From this body of data, there is conclusive evidence that Botox is an effective treatment for chronic migraine headaches.

In 2010 Botox was approved by the FDA, The Food and Drug Administration, to treat chronic migraines.

Learn more about Botox for migraines at the American Migraine Association.

Botox is extremely effective for the treatment of migraines. At least 70% of patients that suffer from migraines report an improvement in their symptoms after Botox treatments. Most patients report a decrease in:

• The severity of the headache
• The longevity of the headache
• The frequency of the headache

We have many patients who report a resolution of migraines after treatment with Botox, while others significantly improve their symptoms. There remains a small subset of patients that will not benefit from Botox treatments.

There are four areas of the face and neck that have been shown to trigger a migraine. These four areas contain nerves that can become irritated.

The irritated nerve can stimulate a series of events that can trigger a migraine. Botox targets three of these four areas:

Frontal

The frontal area is the region between the eyes and the forehead. A frontal migraine is described as a pain above the eye radiating from the outside in.

The nerve associated with frontal migraines is the supraorbital nerve located underneath the end of the eyebrow closest to the nose.

Temporal

A temporal headache is located on the upper side of the head. Patients typically describe these migraines as starting in the temples and moving behind the ear.

The zygomaticofacial branch of the trigeminal nerve is the target for a temporal migraine.

Occipital

Occipital headaches are migraines in the back of the head that can move down into the neck. The greater occipital nerve is the target of the Botox for the treatment of these headaches.

The fourth area that can trigger a migraine is inside of the nose. A migraine in this area is typically described as pain between the eyes or a sinus headache.

The trigger in this area can be secondary to a deviated septum or abnormal anatomy inside the nose. This area is not amenable to Botox treatment.

For nasally triggered headaches, a CT scan of the nose is used to investigate the anatomy. If the anatomy is abnormal, then surgery would be an option to improve migraines.

The injection sites for Botox to treat migraines at our office in Charlotte target the nerves responsible for triggering the headache. There are three main areas where Botox is injected:

• The general area between the eyes and above the eyebrow
• The area around the outer corner of the eyes (crow’s feet) and the outer end of the eyebrow
• The back of the head

The injections take about 10 minutes to complete. They are completed with tiny needles and cause little pain or discomfort.

Our board-certified physician assistants Heather Bryant, MPAS, PA-C, Amanda Piligian, PA-C, and board-certified nurse practitioner Courtney Whitley, FNP-C, all perform this treatment in our office.

If you are interested in scheduling a consultation, please call (704) 842-3644 or fill out the online contact form on this website.