There are many types of headaches. The most common type is tension headache. This can be experienced as a compressing feeling around the head and tends to affect both sides. Sometimes it also affects the neck and shoulders. Another well-known type of headache is migraine. Migraine is usually experienced as a severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound and can even occasionally cause temporary blindness. The underlying cause of these types of headache is unknown, but there are theories that the muscles around the head play a big role. As Botulinum Toxin is a muscle relaxant, these are the conditions in which it could help.
There are numerous ways to treat headaches. Some people might benefit from medication, from psychotherapy, or from (a combination of) different treatments. It is important to see your general practitioner as this is the doctor who can help with diagnostics and treatment.
If you have been diagnosed with tension headache or migraine, and your current treatment is not sufficient enough, a treatment with Botulinum Toxin could be considered.
The exact reason for why botulinum toxin works on certain types of headaches is still unknown but there is lots of research showing the benefits in patients. One explanation could be the theory that the muscles around the head are (partially) the cause of the symptoms.
Whether or not you will benefit from Botulinum Toxin can not be predicted beforehand. Some patients have a very good result after treatment, noticing that symptoms are shorter, less frequent and/or less severe than before. Others do not notice any difference in the symptoms before and after. Therefore, a first Botulinum Toxin treatment for tension headache or migraine is seen as a trial treatment.
At Beauty Centre Maastricht, a consultation is done prior to every new treatment. The consultation is free of charge and without any obligation to do a treatment. We evaluate the symptoms and decide whether or not a Botulinum Toxin treatment is the right option for you. If it is the right option, we examine the location of the muscles and their strength and use this knowledge to determine the dosage and the number of injections. The injections are done by a very thin needle making the treatment practically without pain or dyscomfort. Anesthesia is generally not required.
The maximum effect of the Botulinum Toxin is noticeable 14 days after the initial treatment. During this period, we do a check-up to determine the efficacy of the treatment and to evaluate possible side effects. If needed, additional injections with Botulinum Toxin can be done.
The effect of the botulinum toxin will last for 3 to 6 months. After this time, the Botulinum Toxin will dissolve and the symtoms will re-appear. It is advised to re-do the treatment before the muscles are back to full strength.
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