Is Botox realistic? – News-Press Now

Botox, a neurotoxin used for years to help soften fine lines and wrinkles, is now being used to help migraine headache sufferers and stroke and cerebral palsy patients.

It relaxes the muscles and interferes with neurofibers, preventing them from being stimulated, explains Dr. Debra Keith, a physician and owner of Weston Family Clinic and Medical Spa.

In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved Botox as a treatment for migraines. Botox also hasoffered relief to people suffering from excessive perspiration.

Dr. Keith is a trained injector of the drug for both migraine treatment and cosmetic use.

To help reduce a patients migraines, 31 sites around the head are injected with Botox significantly more than the number of sites used to relax facial wrinkles, Dr. Keith says. The injections take approximately seven to 10 minutes to complete.

The statistics tell us that people start seeing the benefits in about three months, she says.

Initially, neurologists were the first providers to offer the therapeutic migraine treatment, but this meant long waits for patients to get relief, Dr. Keith explains. Now, many more family-practice physicians are receiving the training to inject Botox for migraine sufferers.

Dr. Keith has a patient with severe migraines who saw a significant decrease in headaches in the six weeks following her first treatment. She had reported five or more headaches a week that lasted five hours or more. The headaches were debilitating and greatly interfered with daily activities, the physician says.

Now, the patient experiences around two headaches daily, but they last just one to two hours. Dr. Keith expects with additional injections, her patient will continue to see improvement.

There are even some cosmetic benefits of Botox used to prevent migraines.

I havent had anyone who has minded the cosmetic benefits, Dr. Keith adds. Its just so exciting to help them.

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Is Botox realistic? - News-Press Now