Migraine Surgery

Migraine surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so patients are fully asleep and comfortable during the procedure itself. After surgery, most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort at the incision sites, such as tenderness, tightness, or swelling, rather than sharp pain. This post-operative discomfort can be managed with prescribed medications and gradually improves over the first one to two weeks.

Importantly, many patients report that recovery-related discomfort is far less severe than the migraines they experience regularly.

Migraine surgery usually takes approximately one hour, although the exact duration depends on the number of migraine trigger sites being addressed and the complexity of the surgical plan. Some patients require treatment at a single trigger site, while others may benefit from addressing multiple areas during the same procedure.

Most patients begin with a comprehensive consultation to review migraine history, previous treatments, and diagnostic findings. After surgery, at least one follow-up appointment is scheduled to monitor healing, remove sutures if necessary, and assess early results. Additional follow-up visits may be recommended to track long-term symptom improvement.

While migraine surgery typically does not require frequent follow-up appointments, long-term follow-up allows your surgeon to evaluate how your migraines respond over time and address any lingering concerns.

The timeline for results varies from patient to patient. Some individuals notice improvement shortly after surgery, while others experience gradual relief over weeks or months as inflammation subsides and nerve healing occurs. It’s important to understand that nerves require time to recover, and improvement may continue well beyond the initial healing phase.

Patients often report a reduction in migraine frequency, intensity, or duration over time rather than an immediate elimination of symptoms. We will discuss realistic expectations based on your specific migraine pattern and trigger sites.

Incisions for migraine surgery are carefully placed in discreet locations, such as within the hair-bearing scalp or natural eyelid creases, to minimize visibility. As healing progresses, scars typically fade and become difficult to detect, even upon close inspection. For most patients, scarring is minimal and not a primary concern following recovery.

In select cases, migraine surgery may be combined with other functional (like functional rhinoplasty) or cosmetic procedures, depending on the patient’s goals and overall treatment plan. In some cases, patients can benefit from migraine relief with BOTOX injections. If your surgeon deems this beneficial, we can discuss your options during your consultation.

As with any surgery, migraine surgery can have some complications, such as delayed wound healing, nerve injuries, excessive bleeding, and the chance that the surgery will not help alleviate the pain. Most complications are rare and vary depending on the type of surgery performed.