Many of us associate Botox with a minor cosmetic procedure meant to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. However, Botox has many practical uses aside from smoothing foreheads and plumping pouts. Botox is actually a purified from of the neurotoxin derived from the bacteria that triggers botulism. However, researchers from the American Migraine Foundation recommend the use of Botox in minute amounts in order to soothe several medical pain conditions, including migraine headaches. Here’s how Botox works…

To treat migraines, Botox is injected in small amounts directly into the pain fibers that cause muscles to contract and trigger severe headaches. Patients may need a series of treatments, but many have reported a 50% reduction in severity and frequency of headaches for up to 12-weeks following a single treatment. Before you opt for Botox to treat your chronic migraines, first consult with a Botox migraine specialist for these very important reasons:

1. Consult a doctor experienced with migraines
It’s one thing to consult a cosmetic doctor to help treat your chronic migraines. However, a physician versed in migraines specifically, such as a headache specialist or neurologist, will be up to date on the leading research and studies on migraines and provide you with several options, including the use of Botox, which most can prescribe right there in the office. It’s in your best interest to seek out a doctor that knows specifically how chronic migraines respond to Botox vs. simply cosmetic uses. Luckily, organizations like the American Migraine Foundation host a migraine doctor database.

2. Does your doctor know how to administer Botox?
Even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Botox as a migraine treatment, it doesn’t mean all doctors are familiar with the drug, and more importantly have experience giving Botox injections. Imagine getting a series of injections in your head and neck from an inexperienced doctor? Keep in mind that headache specialists can be general physicians, chronic pain specialists, or neurologists, but not all will have specific experience employing Botox as a pain treatment.

3. Experience is key
Not only should you seek out a migraine specialist with Botox injection experience. When you’re considering 30 to 40 injections in one treatment, you want a well honed expert. For instance ask specifically about the following:

• How many injections the doctor administers per treatment?
• What specific areas of the head and neck will receive needles?
• How often follow up treatments are required (i.e., typically every 12 weeks).
• If the doctor tailors treatments to specific pain sites (i.e., temples).
• How long before you can expect results (i.e., most patients report a reduction in migraine symptoms about 3 weeks following the initial treatment)

4. Find an ally in migraine prevention
Botox is not an effective treatment for all migraine patients. For instance, if you suffer from less than 15 headache days per month, there are other more suitable treatments available. A Botox migraine specialist will be able to provide an educated diagnosis and present patients with informed options to manage cluster headaches vs. chronic migraines. For instance, a Botox migraine specialist will be able to:

• Create a treatment plan based on the patient’s medical history and other medications.
• Track migraine symptoms
• Tailor a treatment plan to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
• Employ Botox to prevent migraines before they even start.