The ongoing synthesis between cosmetic and medical surgical procedures picked up some speed in recent weeks, as several major news outlets covered a revolutionary advance in the treatment of migraines: plastic surgery.
Long considered a mystery in origin and etiology, migraine headaches leave some 36 million Americans utterly incapacitated each the year – sometimes for days or even weeks at a time. Some doctors began to notice a few years ago that certain noninvasive cosmetic procedures such as BOTOX occasionally relieved these headaches as a collateral benefit.
As the science caught up with the findings, facial cosmetic surgeons began to zero in on various anatomical causes of migraine pain, including obstructions and pressure on various nerves. As the procedures improved, so did the outcomes. Here’s the Boston Globe:
A study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2009 — led by Guyuron and submitted by Case Western Reserve University, the American Migraine Center, and the Center for Headache and Pain, Cleveland Clinic — found that just under 85 percent of patients who underwent the nerve decompression surgery reported at least a 50 percent reduction in migraine, calculating pain, frequency, and duration.
Nearly 60 percent (28 of 49 patients) reported a complete elimination of pain. This compared with only 1 of 26 patients who had a sham surgery, in which the surgery was limited to exposure of the nerve but muscle and attachments were left intact. Reported side effects included forehead numbness, temporary hair loss and itching, a slight hollowing of the temple, and small change in eyebrow movement.
Encouraging results, and no doubt a harbinger of future advances in facial cosmetic surgery procedures. Want to speak with an expert on plastic surgery right here in LA? Contact my offices for a free consultation today.