ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – In a first-of-its kind study, plastic surgeons found 90 percent of severe migraine sufferers reported complete elimination or significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of headaches following surgical treatment. The placebo-controlled study, funded by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) National Endowment for Plastic Surgery, will be presented during a first-ever, one day educational course at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland on October 28. The course will include live surgery demonstrating deactivation of the four leading migraine headache trigger sites.
“Roughly 10 percent of the population suffers from severe migraine headaches – until now there has been no treatment to completely eliminate them,” said ASPS Member Surgeon Bahman Guyuron, MD, study author, chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. “This is a randomized, placebo-controlled study which provides the strongest scientific evidence that this treatment is safe and effective. We are now ready to train physicians across the country so this can become standard practice.”
In the study, 76 patients suffering from severe migraines were examined by plastic surgeons and neurologists. Fifty patients had surgical treatment for their migraines, while 26 patients were selected for a placebo-controlled surgery group. Patients were randomly selected for surgical treatment or the placebo group. Migraine suffers who were treated surgically experienced a statistically significant decrease in frequency and intensity of migraine headaches as compared to the placebo group. One year after surgery, 90 percent of the surgically treated patients reported a complete elimination or significant decrease in headaches.
First patients were given Botox® injections to determine which muscles in the forehead, temple, or back of the neck triggered their migraines and to assess their potential response to surgery. Those who reported improvement after Botox injections were selected for the study. Surgical treatment involved removing portions of muscle or a minor nerve, helping to relive nerve compression and inflammation.
“Elements of this procedure involve modifications of plastic surgery techniques traditionally used to minimize facial wrinkles,” said Dr. Guyuron. “In fact, this research began when several of my patients mentioned that their headaches had disappeared after forehead rejuvenation.”
“We are excited about this surgical discovery and eager to help the appropriate patients escape the awful effects of migraines,” said ASPS President Roxanne Guy, MD. “Surgical treatment for migraines should be reserved for those who suffer from severe migraines – at least two to three headaches per month – and those who do not respond to or can not take medication. This treatment is not intended for patients who can be relieved of pain with a high dose of Tylenol.”
More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, the majority are women. Thirteen billion dollars is spent on migraine medications, businesses lose approximately $14 billion and roughly 112 million workdays are lost each year due to migraine headaches.
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