Can Plastic Surgery Help Migraines?

Written by Tena Moore

Plastic Surgery is growing in popularity. In fact, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports that Americans got over 11.5 million cosmetic procedures (surgical and nonsurgical) during 2007. Wouldn’t it be nice if something that helped improve self esteem could also help improve or erase a painful health issue such as migraines? Plastic surgeons are reporting that it can, and a study led by Bahman Guyuron, MD, of Western Reserve University, has shown their reports are true.

The study involved 75 patients, with 49 having plastic surgery and 26 receiving a sham surgery. The participants weren’t told whether they were receiving sham or true surgery. The real surgery involved cutting nerves that relaxed crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes, and lifting the forehead to ease frown lines across the forehead.

While the surgery helped to reduce wrinkles, it also helped reduce and eliminate migraines. One year after the study 57 percent of the patients who received the real surgery reported migraine elimination; only 4 percent of the sham group reported elimination. Eight-three percent of the real surgery group also reported a 50 percent decrease in migraines; only 57 percent of the sham group reported a 50 percent reduction.

Many doctors are already using Botox to help migraines with much success, even though the procedure is not approved for migraine treatment. Perhaps studies like these will help Botox and surgical procedures gain approval. Many doctors are reporting a 70 percent response rate, and many patients are quite enthusiastic about the results.





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