Most patients recover quickly from migraine surgery. As you consider whether you should undergo surgery for your migraine attacks, it's natural to have questions. Here are some of the most common concerns.
Recovery times following surgical procedures for migraine conditions vary from person to person, but are normally relatively quick and without problems. Migraine surgery is minimally invasive, with most procedures are performed on an out-patient basis. The surgery itself may take between one and four hours, depending on the number of migraine trigger sites.
Immediately following surgery, you shouldn't have too much discomfort. Pain medications will ease your initial soreness, and you’ll be able to take a full shower the second day after surgery.
Medical specialists will provide all the personal information you need before and after your treatment, tailored to your own specific circumstances.
Most patients follow a predictable pattern of recovery, so in general you can expect:
Although you go home quickly once you’ve had your procedure (often on the same day), you should not expect to drive yourself. Make sure you arrange for a ride from the hospital to ensure you arrive home safely.
All patients who undergo surgery for migraines can expect follow up appointments to monitor their progress. The frequency depends on the individual patient and their personal needs, but typically post-surgical check-up patterns run like this:
Further checks and reviews depend on your unique circumstances. They will be determined and arranged on an individual basis.
We remove sutures between 8 and 12 days following surgery, depending on the type and placement. Procedures such as M.I.S.O.N (Minimally Invasive Supra-Orbital Nerve) and M.I.G.O.N.E (Minimally Invasive Greater Occipital Nerve Entrapment) for migraine don’t require large incisions, and the surgeon will often use soluble sutures that the body slowly absorbs. Staples may close M.I.G.O.N.E incisions, and your primary care physician can remove these if you prefer. Depending on your post-operative progress, this may be possible during your second follow up appointment.
Incisions are normally located on the scalp or within other natural creases, so visible scar tissue should not be apparent. Other physical change risks include numbness in the scalp or a reduced ability to frown. Every patient is different, so you doctor will be able to give more detailed personal expectations.
Migraine surgery can produce real relief for chronic migraine sufferers. It is not possible to guarantee a total cure from migraine, but around 90% of patients experience, at the least, less severity and migraines of shorter duration.