How are headache treatments performed?

On average, a headache treatment will take 10 minutes or so to perform. Most patients will begin to notice the effects a week or so after the procedure and this will last for 3 - 6 months. Headaches become more tolerable, last for shorter periods or in many cases they are stopped all together.

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Pre-treatment:

Headache treatments using Botox should not be performed unless you have already sought medical advice. The treatments are only useful for tension, cluster or migraine - type headaches. Therefore your headache history will be explored before your booking is made.

Click here to read about the headache types that can be treated

- Patients will be given a medical history questionnaire and a consent form to complete before their treatment.

- Your face, scalp and neck will be then examined. You will also be asked to perform a few simple facial expressions to demonstrate muscular tension areas. A bespoke treatment can then be designed according to your headache history and examination as headaches are very variable in their location and symptoms.

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Treatment:

- The areas to be treated will firstly be cleaned with an alcohol wipe.

- The treatment involves tiny injections with a very fine needle. The common muscles treated include the forehead area, the temple areas, the scalp muscles and the neck. There is only very minor discomfort and no anaesthetic is needed for this.

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Post-treatment

- After your treatment, you will be asked to relax for 5 - 10 minutes. The areas treated may initially look and feel like small 'mosquito bites' and this is completely normal. The effect is caused by the small amounts of fluid injected under the skin which will absorb within 15 minutes or so.

- Some very tiny areas of bleeding from the sites may also occur. These are easily stopped with pressure and cleaned with cotton wool. You will be helped with this.

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After care instructions:

- There are a few simple rules that MUST be followed after a headache treatment to gain the maximum effects whilst also helping to avoid the few potential side effects:

1. DO NOT massage, rub vigorously or wash the areas until the next day after your treatment. This also includes not applying make up to the treated areas (if relevant).

2. DO NOT drink alcohol until the next day.

3. DO NOT participate in sports, exercise or vigorous activity until the next day after your treatment.

4. DO NOT bend over or lie down for at least 4 hours after treatment

These rules are designed to prevent Botox moving to areas of the face or neck that are not desirable to be treated. Failure to follow these significantly increases the chances of potential side effects. (These are fully reversible and are almost exclusively caused by patients not following the above instructions)

A helpful reminder card with these rules listed will be given to you, so there is no need to worry about forgetting them.