Botox is Health Canada Approved for chronic migraines, which means headache on 15 or more days a month. The more frequent the headaches, the better the patient does with Botox. Botox is not recommended for patients who experience fewer than 15 headache days a month.

Botox is a form of botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria that causes botulism. When the Botox botulinum toxin is purified and used in tiny doses in specific areas, it temporarily reduces muscle contractions for approximately 3 months. In regards to headaches Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This prevents activation of pain networks in the brain.

Botox is injected around pain fibers that are involved in headaches. Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This prevents activation of pain networks in the brain, reducing the intensity and frequency of migraines. Botox prevents migraine headaches before they start, but takes time to work.

At Face Cosmedics Medical Spa our experienced injectors follow the PREEMPT (PHASE III Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy) PROTOCOL for administering Botox for your migraines. Injections are performed once every 3 months and at least 3 treatments should be completed prior to determining if the treatment is working for you.

Clients see increasing benefit with an increase in the number of treatment cycles. One treatment lasts for 10-12 weeks, and clients have reported that two Botox treatments reduced the number of headache days by approximately 50%.

Our Nurse Practioner will only inject Botox for your migraines if you are 18 years of age or older. Younger clients would need to discuss this treatment with their family physician as well as neurologist.

You must obtain a prescription from your family practitioner or neurologist. Your Migraines must be managed by the prescriber. Our Nurse Practitioner will then perform the Botox treatment as long as it has been approved by your family practitioner or neurologist

In Fort McMurray, Alberta Insurance companies may cover the cost of Botox for your migraines. Often, before your insurance company will approve Botox as a treatment for your chronic migraine, you typically must have tried and failed to respond to other preventative treatments. These might include anti-seizure medications, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications that are typically used to prevent migraine.

Receiving Botox treatment for migraines at Face Cosmedics Medical Spa in Fort McMurray, Alberta is quite straight forward. Expect the appointment to take about 30 minutes. Our Nurse Practitioner, uses a very small needle that feels like a pinprick. She injects small amounts of Botox into shallow muscles in the skin.

Each treatment typically involves 31 injections in the head and neck. It can take up to six months to see the maximum benefit from Botox. In the meantime, you can continue your regular medications with no risk of a drug interaction.