For the nearly 30 million Americans who suffer from migraine pain but are unable to find relief through various treatments, one plastic surgeon has been experimenting with a radical new idea that he hopes will bring some relief: forehead lifts to treat migraine discomfort.

Forehead Lift Surgery May Relieve Migraines

Dr. Bahman Guyuron, a Cleveland-based plastic surgeon, began theorizing the idea after he noticed some of his patients reported having less severe migraines after getting a routine brow lift.

Guyuron believes that migraines occur when corrugator muscles pinch the trigeminal nerve. This nerve, also known as the fifth nerve, is responsible for sensory feelings in the face, as well as certain functions like chewing or swallowing.

During a typical forehead lift, the patient’s corrugator muscles are removed to help smooth creases and wrinkles. The corrugator muscles, also known as the “frowning” muscles because they perform that function in the face, can become loose and sag over time.

After operating on 89 different individuals, Guyuron published a study that said that 92% of his patients reported that the “frequency, intensity, and duration” of their migraines was reduced by almost 50%. Of that same group, 35% reported that the surgery had completely eliminated migraine and migraine-related discomfort.

Neurologists urge caution and question the underlining results

Dr. Guyuron’s work does have detractors who say that it is too soon to tell if the results are even viable. They also point to the fact that Guyuron performed more than just a forehead lift on many of the patients, noting that 38% had a portion of their occipital muscle removed, and another 70% had additional operations to fix a deviated septum (a nose job procedure).

Some neurologists also refute the idea that migraines are even caused by tension on the trigeminal nerve. Instead they point to the more commonly held belief that migraines stem from a neurovascular disorder.

What is a migraine and how is it caused?

A migraine causes moderate-to-severe headaches that can last up to several hours and in some cases, several days. People with migraines are sometimes more susceptible to nausea or vomiting, and may become extremely sensitive to bright light.

Doctors originally believed that migraines were a vascular disorder in which abnormal blood vessels would constrict, greatly reducing blood flow to the brain. Today, doctors no longer follow that theory. Migraines are now classified as a neurovascular disorder.

Powerful neurotransmitters, as well as changes in brain activity, help to:

• Regulate the movement of minerals across the brain.
• When these become abnormal, blood flow is lessened and is said to cause the onset of one.
• In essence, your brain is responsible for migraines, and not your blood vessels.

Doctors also believe that certain foods that are rich in artificial ingedients can triggern migraines. These include:

• Nitrates (hot dogs)
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Aspartame (used in artificial sweeteners)

Some studies have shown that migraines can be passed on through genetics.

Migraines are a troubling health issue for many people. According to the National Institute of Health:

• 1 in 4 households have at least one person who suffers from migraine-related ailments.
• Statistically speaking, 3 out of 4 people with migraines are female.

With such a high number of patients complaining of migraine pain, doctors are constantly looking for new ways to fight the often debilitating disorder. FDA-approved medications are available but they do not always work for some patients.

So far studies have not conclusively determined what causes a migraine. What is known is that the people who suffer from them all share a common bond: they want a cure, no matter what form it may take.