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Los Angeles Orthopedic

LAOSS BOTOX
for migraines.

A proven preventive treatment for chronic migraine. When headaches strike 15 or more days a month, targeted BOTOX injections can reduce how often they happen and how severe they feel, so you get more good days back.

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Woman holding her head during a migraine, illustrating BOTOX for chronic migraine prevention at Los Angeles Orthopedic Surgery Specialists
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BOTOX for Migraines

Procedure
LAOSS pain management
Key takeaways
  • BOTOX is FDA-approved to prevent chronic migraine, defined as 15 or more headache days a month.
  • A quick in-office treatment: about 31 small injections across the forehead, temples, back of the head, neck, and shoulders.
  • Repeated every 12 weeks. Most patients see the biggest benefit after two or three treatment cycles.
  • Delivered by our Los Angeles pain management team. Same or next-day appointments often available. Call (323) 264-7600.
Overview

About BOTOX for migraine

BOTOX is part of the comprehensive pain management care we offer at LAOSS. For people living with chronic migraine, it is one of the most effective preventive treatments available.

BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) works by blocking the chemical signals that trigger muscle tension and pain around the head and neck. Given as a series of small injections every 12 weeks, it can lower the number of migraine days each month and make the migraines you do get easier to manage.

Our pain management specialists start with a full evaluation, confirm that chronic migraine is the right diagnosis, and build a plan around your history and your goals.

Patient education

Watch: How BOTOX treats pain

When we think of BOTOX, we often think of wrinkle reduction. But these injections have other uses. They also treat pain. Learn about BOTOX and the types of pain it can treat, including chronic migraine.

Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive

What to expect

What a BOTOX migraine treatment looks like

Most BOTOX migraine treatments take about 15 minutes and are done right in the office. There is no sedation and no downtime, so most patients drive themselves home and return to their day.

Here is what you can expect:

  • Consultation first. We review your headache history, confirm the chronic migraine diagnosis, and check your insurance coverage.
  • Day of treatment. You receive about 31 small injections across seven muscle areas of the head, neck, and shoulders. A very fine needle is used, so most patients describe it as small pinches.
  • Back to normal fast. There are no activity restrictions afterward. Mild soreness at the injection sites usually settles within a day.
  • A treatment every 12 weeks. BOTOX for migraine is given on a 12-week cycle. Benefit tends to build, with the strongest results after the second or third round.
Candidacy

Are you a candidate?

If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with our pain management team is the next step.

You may be

You may be a candidate if

These signs usually point toward BOTOX being a good fit for migraine prevention.

  • You have 15 or more headache days a month
  • Each migraine lasts four hours or longer
  • Preventive medications have not worked well or caused side effects
  • Migraines are disrupting work, school, or daily life
  • You have a confirmed chronic migraine diagnosis
Evaluation

What your evaluation includes

Your first visit is built to give you a clear plan, not just another referral.

  • A detailed headache history and review of past treatments
  • Confirmation of the chronic migraine diagnosis
  • A walk-through of BOTOX, how it works, and what to expect
  • Insurance and coverage review before you commit
  • Same or next-day scheduling for your first treatment when appropriate
ImportantSeek urgent care for a sudden severe headache unlike any before, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, weakness, numbness, vision loss, trouble speaking, or a new headache after a head injury.
What to expect

Your BOTOX treatment course.

BOTOX for migraine works over time. Here is how the first few months usually go.

01Visit 1

Your first treatment

The first session takes about 15 minutes in the office.

  • About 31 injections across seven head, neck, and shoulder muscle areas
  • No sedation and no downtime
  • Mild soreness that usually settles within a day
  • A follow-up scheduled at 12 weeks
02Weeks 1 to 12

The first cycle

Some patients notice fewer headache days within the first few weeks.

  • Track your headache days so we can measure the benefit
  • Continue any other migraine care your specialist recommends
  • Note any side effects to review at your next visit
  • Return at 12 weeks for your next treatment
03Cycles 2 and 3

Building the benefit

The strongest results usually come after the second or third treatment.

  • Migraine days often drop further with each cycle
  • Your specialist adjusts the plan based on your response
  • Treatments continue every 12 weeks as long as they help
  • We reassess regularly to confirm BOTOX is still the right choice
Risks & considerations

What to weigh before you decide.

We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient. Informed consent is a conversation, not a form.

Common

Common and usually mild

Most side effects are minor and short-lived.

  • Soreness or bruising at the injection sites
  • Temporary neck stiffness
  • A mild headache right after treatment
  • Minor muscle weakness near the injection area
Less common

Less common considerations

We screen for these and review them with you before treatment.

  • Temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow
  • Not everyone responds, and benefit can take two to three cycles
  • BOTOX is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Tell us about any neuromuscular condition or recent botulinum toxin treatment
Your care team

Pain management specialists.

3 providers
Jose Antonio Acosta, MD
01
Jose Antonio Acosta, MD
Pain Management & Rehabilitation
Habla Español
→
Glendale · Encino · +2
Accepting new patients
Raj Desai, MD
02
Raj Desai, MD
Pain Management & Rehabilitation
→
East Los Angeles
Accepting new patients
Jason Kaushik, MD
03
Jason Kaushik, MD
Pain Management & Rehabilitation
→
East Los Angeles
Accepting new patients
View all providers
About this care

Migraine relief, close to home.

At LAOSS, expert care is close to home. With same or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles area offices, you will not wait weeks or months for answers about your migraines.

Our pain management team combines advanced treatments like BOTOX with a patient-first approach, coordinating every step of your care. Call or schedule online today to find out whether BOTOX is right for you.

Common questions

Your BOTOX questions, answered.

  • For chronic migraine, yes. In large clinical trials, BOTOX reduced the number of headache days per month, and it is FDA-approved for this use. Most patients see the biggest benefit after their second or third treatment.
  • The needle is very fine, so most patients describe the injections as small pinches. The whole treatment takes about 15 minutes, and there is no downtime afterward.
  • BOTOX for migraine is given every 12 weeks. Staying on that schedule is what keeps the benefit going.
  • Many plans cover BOTOX for chronic migraine when preventive medications have not worked. Our team reviews your coverage before you start so there are no surprises. Call (323) 264-7600 to check your plan.
  • It is the same medication, but the purpose, injection sites, and dosing are different. Migraine treatment targets specific muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders on a set pattern to prevent headaches, not to smooth wrinkles.
Ready to talk to a specialist

Book a visit at LAOSS.

Same-week appointments available across eight Los Angeles area offices.

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