Frequently asked questions

Migraine does not discriminate between age or gender, and patients of all ages are accepted. Acceptance depends on how long you have had migraine and facial pain. The treatment is recommended for patients aged 12–86.

Botox® addresses migraine symptoms by paralysing nerve endings. It typically works for a few months, and symptoms can return with greater severity. Dr. Owiesy's approach aims to address the cause of migraine rather than temporarily block symptoms.

The amount of each medication used is the minimum effective dose recommended by the FDA for every component, so adverse reactions are not expected. Patients allergic to any component are excluded unless desensitised.

The first step is a consultation, a review of your history and an evaluation of your available medical records. Based on this, the doctor decides when to start treatment and whether migraine-related medications should be stopped.

Some medications may be tapered slowly if needed. Patients on long-term opioids should complete detoxification before treatment, and patients on blood thinners may pause them for 72 hours in consultation with their primary physician.

If you have active craniofacial pain, you may be scheduled for the next day or within the following days. You will follow a simple scalp and hair washing routine, then lie comfortably on the treatment table while the treatment is administered.

Like any injection, it may cause a mild stinging sensation in the skin for 5–10 seconds. Patients who are very sensitive can receive a skin-numbing treatment an hour beforehand. The procedure itself takes about 60–90 minutes.

Many patients feel relief right away. The pain usually eases quickly, with complete relief expected within 48–72 hours.

Most patients (95%) have relief with the first treatment. Around 5% may feel atypical pain in the same or another area because nerve anatomy varies. These patients receive a second session for the remaining nerve branches only, at no charge.

Some insurers decline coverage because this is a new, uncoded form of treatment. Costs are kept affordable, payment plans are accepted, and touch-up treatments are free. Follow-up visits may be billed to insurance.

Health savings accounts and other providers may cover the full cost. The clinic can provide a treatment protocol, receipt and clinical data for you to submit, but cannot bill your insurer directly.

Yes. The components used have been applied for many years to treat a wide variety of conditions.

In the clinic's experience, relief is long-lasting. One long-term patient has been headache-free for more than seven years after thirty years of migraine with aura.

Some people with 30 to 60 years of migraine history may experience a mild 'phantom' headache after treatment, which typically responds easily to ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Touch-up treatments are free for ten years.

Treatment experience began in 2005. Faro T. Owiesy, MD is multi-disciplinary trained and has studied the autonomic nervous system, craniofacial pain and related conditions for many years.

Standard or alternative medications are generally not recommended before or after treatment, and there is no need for lifestyle modification or a change of job.

Consultations are available by phone and email. Your migraine history is reviewed first, then a short visit is arranged for treatment. We recommend staying nearby for 3–4 days in case a touch-up session is needed; otherwise you can return within a month for a follow-up.