Here's What to Expect After Your Migraine Surgery
May 02, 2024
There are many effective treatments available for migraines, but they’re not always enough to overcome the challenges of chronic migraine disorder. In that case, surgery may help restore your quality of life as it decreases the frequency and intensity of migraine pain.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Blumenauer provides top-level aesthetic services to Florida’s Treasure Coast communities through his Oceana Aesthetics practice in Stuart, Florida. His services include migraine surgery for individuals who have had limited success with traditional treatments.
Read more from the Oceana team regarding the benefits of migraine surgery and what to expect from the procedure.
Migraine surgery, also known as nerve decompression surgery or migraine trigger site surgery, is designed to alleviate chronic migraines in individuals who have not responded well to conventional treatments.
Generally performed under general anesthesia, the procedure targets specific trigger points where compressed or irritated nerves may be contributing to migraine attacks.
Identified before the surgery, these trigger points are located around the face, scalp, or neck. Releasing (decompressing) the involved nerves disrupts signals that contribute to migraine attacks.
Migraine surgery can offer relief to individuals with specific migraine patterns and trigger points. The long-term benefits of the procedure include:
The primary goal of migraine surgery is to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Many patients report elimination or a significant decrease in the number of migraine attacks they experience post-surgery.
Chronic migraines can have a profound impact on daily life, affecting everything from work to relationships. By reducing migraine frequency and severity, migraine surgery can significantly improve your overall quality of life.
Many migraine sufferers rely on medications to manage their symptoms, which can have side effects and limitations. Migraine surgery may reduce or eliminate the need for medication or allow patients to use lower doses, leading to fewer side effects.
Migraine surgery and recovery varies from one individual to the next since trigger point locations can vary. Dr. Blumenauer discusses expectations, incision care, and the recovery period in detail before scheduling your procedure.
It’s important to follow Dr. Blumenauer’s aftercare instructions and restrictions carefully, including keeping the sites clean and dry and possibly temporary work or lifting restrictions.
Some individuals experience a significant reduction in migraine frequency and severity shortly after surgery, while others may require more time to see noticeable improvements. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 70% to 95% of patients undergoing migraine surgery experience improvement or complete elimination of their headaches.
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Blumenauer today by calling Oceana Aesthetics or requesting an appointment online.