Commonly Asked Questions:

How can I make an appointment with one of your migraine specialists?                                                                                                                                     Prior to meeting with one of our migraine experts, we have our patients fill out a detailed migraine questionnaire to help determine if you are a surgical candidate and to help us create a treatment program specific for you. The questionnaire can be downloaded at MigrainesNY.com

Who is a good candidate for migraine surgical treatment?                                                                                                                                                             New York Migraine Association Group surgeons will consider surgical treatment for migraine patients who respond well to injectable treatments. Injectable treatments are used to temporarily ‘freeze’ the muscles with migraine-causing nerve constriction helping to identify trigger sites. If trigger sites are successfully pinpointed, a patient may move forward with surgery to permanently release the compression of those muscles to provide long-term relief of symptoms.

How is the migraine surgery performed?                                                                                                                                                                                                  Migraine surgical solutions vary from patient to patient depending on the offending muscles identified through injectable treatment methods. The muscles that are most likely correlated with migraine headaches are the forehead, temple, back of head or deviated septum. In the case of forehead muscles, a small segment of facial muscle over the nerves is removed through small hidden incisions near hair bearing skin. This procedure will also smooth the forehead. In the case of temple muscles, the nerves are detached but not removed. In the back of the head, muscles that encapsulate the nerves may also be removed. When a deviated septum contributes to migraine pain, a septoplasty, or straightening of the septum, is performed along with removal of the turbinates in the nose.

What are the risks and side effects of migraine surgical treatment?                                                                                                                                    Although uncommon, some complications may include: discomfort, mild bruising and swelling. There can be a temporary hollowing of the temple, numbness in the forehead and scalp as well as infection and bleeding. Phlebitis may also occur causing a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus (a blood clot to the lungs). There may be a shift in brow appearance and movement and localized hair loss in the temporal areas. With septoplasty and turbinectomy, a dryness and a whistling sound from the nose can occur after surgery. Lastly, migraines may continue as there is no guarantee that a surgical treatment will be 100% effective.

Does insurance cover migraine treatment?                                                                                                                                                                                             In some cases, insurance companies will cover injectable treatments for migraines such as Botox which was FDA approved in 2010 for the treatment of migraines. Migraine surgery may be covered by insurance. Our team of experts will help you through the insurance process.

For more information please visit: newyorkmigraineassociation.com