The surgery is usually performed as an outpatient operation in a facility adjacent to Dr. Guyuron’s office.

The majority of the procedures are done under general anesthesia and usually the patient spends about half a day in the facility.

The patient should plan to go directly home or to the nearby hotel where they have reserved a room. Someone has to stay with the patient to assist with post-surgical care.

Anyone who has at least two or three severe migraine headaches per month that would not respond to over-the-counter medications, those who are tired of taking migraine medications, and those who experience migraine headaches that interfere with their personal and professional lives would be good candidates for this surgery. This is especially true for those who have frequent migraine headaches, do not tolerate migraine medications or have experienced side effects from medications.

Patient safety is important to us. Each patient’s testing is personalized based on medical history.

After recovering in the facility, the patient is released to a caregiver. The drains are usually removed in two to four days. The patient will appear presentable in about one to two weeks after surgery and can resume social activities at this time, depending on the trigger site. It is recommended that patients avoid heavy exercise for about three weeks. Usually, there are no limitations after this period. 

The patient will be asked to avoid aspirin or aspirin-type medications for three weeks before and one week after surgery and will be provided with a list of medications and food products to avoid. Strict adherence to the instructions from the surgical team will ensure safer operation and quicker recovery.

Depending on the type of surgery, the results could be immediate or may take several weeks or months to observe the improvement, especially when the surgery involves the nose.

This commonly is the consequence of a trigger site that was not identified because it was dormant or was overshadowed by other, more dominating trigger sites. It is always possible to have surgery on the other trigger sites that were not detected earlier. The pain in the operative site may go away completely and you may develop pain somewhere else, which can be treated.

If you have migraine headaches, you can continue with your migraine medications, as long as they do not contain aspirin or aspirin-type medication. However, the need for these medications becomes extremely small.

It depends on the type of insurance you have. Approximately 50 percent of insurance companies currently cover this surgery. Dr. Guyuron’s office staff will assist you in obtaining the answer from the insurance company.