How Can Botox Help With Migraines? Is It A Good Option For Me?
If you suffer from frequent, severe, and prolonged migraines in Uptown, Highland Park, or anywhere else in Dallas, Botox treatment from Dr. E-Jan Tung and Dr. Quinn Liu may be just what you need to get relief, and live a more normal day-to-day life.
Understanding The Basics About Botox
Botox is a medical product that’s used for a variety of both cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. It’s derived from botulinum toxin, which is a toxic substance produced by a bacterium called clostridium botulinum.
Though botulinum toxin is extremely toxic, it can be safely used in very small amounts in Botox. When injected into the face or another area of the body, the toxin in Botox blocks the nerve signals that cause your muscles to move.
For cosmetic purposes, this helps smooth out wrinkles and laugh lines, and provides you with a smoother, more youthful face. But the same method of selective muscle paralyzation can also be used to treat a variety of medical issues, including migraines.
How Botox Helps With Migraines
Botox is used to treat migraines by blocking the “neurotransmitters,” in the face that carry pain signals to your brain. By blocking these signals, the chemicals that are sent to your brain and cause headaches are stopped in their tracks, which can help prevent a migraine headache from occurring.
It is a highly effective treatment. After 2 rounds of Botox injections, patients suffering from migraines report 50% fewer headache days. After 5 rounds of treatment, this increases to 70% fewer headache days. If you get regular migraines, Botox can help you get relief and live a normal day-to-day life without the pain and discomfort of migraine headaches.
How Does The Treatment Process Work?
The treatment process for Botox for migraine at White Dental Spa is very simple, fast, and non invasive. Each Botox injection usually lasts for about 10-12 weeks, so patients typically get a new injection every 3 months. You’ll usually start experiencing the biggest reduction in migraines after two consecutive 3-month injections.
At your appointment, multiple doses of Botox will be injected into areas like the back of your neck, your forehead, the bridge of your nose, and a few other areas, depending on the extent of your migraines. It takes about 15-30 minutes for each treatment.
Do I Qualify For Botox For Migraines?
This depends on the extent of your migraines. The FDA has approved Botox for treating migraine headaches, but only for patients who have:
- A history of migraine headaches
- An average of at least 15 headaches (including tension headaches) every month, 8 of which must be migraine headaches.
If you do not have a history of headaches and you get headaches 14 or fewer days per month, you may not qualify for treatment. Botox is also not approved for other types of headaches, such as cluster headaches.
Get Help For Migraines At White Dental Spa
As experienced dentists in Dallas, Dr. E-Jan Tung and Dr. Quinn Liu are experts in facial anatomy, and can provide targeted Botox injections to help you get relief from migraines in Oaklawn, Turtle Creek, and Highland Park. To get started, consult with your doctor to find out if you qualify for Botox for migraines. Then, contact White Dental Spa online or give us a call at (214) 484-1064 to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists.