Migraines & Headaches Health Center

Cosmetic Surgery May Also Treat Migraines

Treatment of Last Resort

Still, experts say surgery for migraines is probably only a good idea for patients who’ve tried less invasive measures first.

“The type of patients who usually are treated with this approach usually have very severe, difficult to control migraines,” Janis says. “They’ve seen a whole host of neurologists. They’ve tried a pharmacy full of medications, most of which have side effects that are undesirable. Most of my patients have also tried alternative forms of therapy like menthol patches, electrical stimulation, acupuncture.”

And he cautions that while the surgery does seem to help many patients who have it, it’s not foolproof.

“There is a failure rate to the surgery, so it doesn’t work in 100% of people and we don’t know exactly why yet,” he says.