Headaches of any caliber can impede your concentration and productivity, but migraines make life especially difficult. At Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center in Federal Way, Washington, Shaista Quddusi, MD, and Irfan Ansari, MD, and their team provide Botox® injections to reduce the number of migraine headaches you get in a month if you have chronic migraine. For more information about the treatment and to find out if you’re a candidate, call Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center, or book an appointment online today.

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What are headaches?

Headaches happen when you feel pain, pressure, or aching on one or both sides of your head. The pain might be located in your forehead, temples, or closer to your neck. In any case, just one headache can disrupt your day or even up to an entire week.

One specific type of headache is called a migraine headache. Migraine headaches are particularly intense and often come with debilitating symptoms that go beyond head pain or pressure. If you get migraines, they might include:

  • Light sensitivity
  • Sound sensitivity
  • Seeing spots or flashes of light
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Temporary loss of vision

Most migraines cause pain on just one side of your head, but it’s possible to get a migraine that affects both sides. Not everyone gets migraines, but if you do, certain triggers like stress, hormone fluctuations, and alcohol can contribute to them.

How are migraine headaches treated?

At Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center, Dr. Ansari treats migraine headaches using Botox®. Many people are surprised to find that Botox is more than an aesthetic injectable for wrinkles and fine lines. In addition to its cosmetic uses, Botox has the ability to treat headaches and migraines.

In order to qualify for a Botox treatment for your migraine headaches, you must have headaches on at least 15 days of the month, and at least eight of them must qualify as migraine headaches.

The main ingredient in Botox, botulinum toxin, works by blocking the pain signals from your nerves to your brain. For an effective treatment, Dr. Ansari usually recommends a round of several injections in your head and neck area once every 12 weeks. The results appear about two to three weeks after your first session.

How should I prepare for my migraine headaches treatment?

Before you undergo a Botox treatment for migraine headaches, you must first come to Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center for a brief consultation with Dr. Ansari. He asks about your headaches and migraines, how often you get them, their severity, and their impact on your life. He also reviews your medical history.

Ahead of your injections, Dr. Ansari might recommend that you:

  • Hydrate
  • Avoid blood-thinning medications
  • Ask questions about the treatment
  • Prepare ice packs ahead of time to control swelling

Botox injections don’t take long at Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center, and you can go about your day as usual after the procedure if you choose.

To find out if you’re a candidate to treat your migraine headaches with Botox injections, call Rejuvenate Skin & Wellness Center, or book a consultation online today.