Migraine Surgery
San Francisco

For chronic sufferers of migraine pain there is now a migraine surgery in San Francisco to correct the problem. New and innovative for its field, the most recent alternative for the alleviation of migraine pain is through Botox surgery. The same surgery that is used on patients of brow lift procedures has been found effective on suffers of migraines as well. Instead of injecting Botox for firming purposes, surgeons can instead make injections into the temporal nerves of these patients to put an end to their migraine headaches.

Migraine Surgery San Francisco

What Is A Migraine

A migraine is a type of headache that can occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or extreme sensitivity to light and sound. In many cases, a throbbing pain or pulsing sensation is felt in one side of the head.

Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to even days. They can be so severe and debilitating. Some migraines are preceded by warning symptoms, called an aura, which causes flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in your arm or leg. Medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. However, if treatment hasn’t worked for you in the past, please contact us to learn more about our innovative procedure for long term migraine relief.

About Migraine Surgery

The theory behind using brow lifting techniques for the treatment of migraines stems from the understanding that surgeons are essentially using the process to decompress pinched nerves that are the sources of migraine pain in many patients who suffer.

When the procedure is performed at Pacific Plastic Surgery Group, Dr. Miranda systematically makes small incisions into sections of muscle in his patients, thereby releasing the pressure around the nerves and relieving them of their headaches. Over the past 10 years, medical researchers have identified trigger points in the head and neck that cause migraine headaches to start.

This research culminated with a placebo-controlled research trial showing that surgery directed at the trigger points will eliminate or markedly relieve migraines in more than 84% of patients over the long term. Migraine surgery solutions vary from patient to patient, depending upon the trigger point muscles identified through injectable treatment methods. The muscles (or conditions) that are most likely correlated with migraine headaches are the forehead, temple, back of the head or deviated septum.

Fast Facts About Migraines

  • Migraine headaches are caused by the enlargement of blood vessel and release of chemicals from nerve fibers surrounding these blood vessels.
  • A migraine headache can lead to feelings of nausea and vomiting.
  • Migraines affect 12 out of 100 people in the United States.
  • Migraines usually affect people between the ages of 15 and 55 years old.
  • Some people who suffer from migraines can identify triggers that cause the headaches such as allergies, light and stress, alcohol, etc.
  • Some people experience migraines with perceptual disturbances called auras.
  • Auras can act as a warning, preceding the onset of a migraine headache.
  • Many people do not find relief from over the counter and/or prescription medications.
  • Migraine pain often causes difficulties for family and loved ones.
  • Migraine pain can lead to frustration, missed work and other activities.

How Is Migraine Surgery Performed?

Patients do not have much to worry about in regards to the incisions made during the procedure. These are typically hairline incisions which can barely be seen.

  • Our San Francisco migraine surgery is typically an outpatient procedure.
  • Surgery involves the triggering nerve(s) being decompressed (trigeminal, supra-trochlear, and/or great occipital) or divided (zygomatico-temporal).
  • Decompression is conceptually similar to carpal tunnel surgery.
  • The procedure can be done endoscopically for the supra-orbital, supra-trochlear and zygomatico-temporal.
  • The procedure can be performed endo-nasally for naso-septal trigger points.
  • Migraine procedures are similar in approach to an endoscopic brow lift and/or septoplasty.

Benefits Of Migraine Surgeries

Worldwide, it is estimated that migraines adversely affect an entire 10% of the population on a yearly basis. However, thanks to innovative surgical procedures and techniques such as those being practiced at Pacific Plastic Surgery Group by Dr. Miranda and our medical team, migraine sufferers in San Francisco and throughout the U.S. can seek relief. Days lost to migraine pain and money spent on inadequate methods of relief will no longer plague those who opt for migraine surgery at our office in San Francisco.

Consultation for Migraine Surgery in San Francisco

Dr. Miranda sees patients at his private office in the Laurel Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. After scheduling your consultation, an informational packet will either be mailed or emailed to you with more information about migraine surgery. On the day of your consultation for migraine surgery San Francisco plastic surgeon, Dr. Miranda will ask you to fill out a patient questionnaire, which reviews pertinent areas of your medical, surgical and migraine history. Dr. Miranda prides himself in his dedication to detail and fully understanding each patient’s individual concerns. Because of this, the initial consultation typically takes at least one hour. Dr. Miranda will listen to all your concerns, discuss your options and conduct a physical examination. The risks and benefits of each procedure will be discussed in detail.

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Am I A Candidate for Migraine Surgery?

Many people who suffer from migraines have only one or two migraine attacks each year, however some people have several migraines each month.

Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, leaving you unable to function normally. It can lead to difficulty leading a normal life, with unplanned time away from work and other routine activities. If you suffer from more than 2 migraines a month, it may be beneficial to prevent migraines from occurring. You can be considered a candidate for migraine surgery if you answer YES to any of the following:

  • Have you been diagnosed with chronic migraine headaches by a neurologist?
  • Do you routinely have 2 or more migraine headaches every month?
  • Have you tried several different types of medication to treat and/or to prevent migraine headaches?
  • Do you feel that your migraine headaches are not well controlled?
Migraine Surgery San Francisco

Your Migraine History

Dr. Miranda will need a detailed account of your migraine history. In particular, he needs to know:

  • Where are your trigger points (where your migraines start)? Common points may include the forehead, temples, eyes or back of the head.
  • How often are your migraine headaches (per day, week or month)?
  • What medications have you used for migraine relief (prescription and over-the-counter)?
  • Have you used Botox for migraine relief? If so, was it successful?
  • Identification of Trigger Points

Your migraine trigger points will be identified by your history and migraine experiences. Botox is often used to confirm trigger points. Botox with Dr. Miranda is not the same as Botox treatment for migraines with a neurologist. A neurologist will typically inject all over rather than localize the injections to one specific site.

Dr. Miranda injects Botox into one nerve site at a time to relax the overlying muscle. After the injections, patients are sent home and instructed to keep a detailed migraine journal (provided by Pacific Migraine) to determine which set of injections provide relief. If you are a candidate, the procedure can be booked shortly after all potential trigger points are confirmed or eliminated.

Schedule your consultation at Pacific Plastic Surgery Group in San Francisco, where we pride ourselves on our results and quality patient experience.

77 Van Ness Ave, Suite 302, San Francisco, CA

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415-379-9015