Practice News

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann knows the pain of a migraine. In fact, so seriously do these headaches affect people, and their reputation is widespread, the politician had to reassure the public. This according to the Huffington Post on July 19th,

“Let me be abundantly clear – my ability to function effectively has never been impeded by migraines and will not affect my ability to serve as commander in chief,” Bachmann said in a statement issued through her campaign. She also read the prepared remarks aloud during a campaign stop in South Carolina.

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction could likely offer Ms. Bachmann some assistance. Botox treatment for migraines, available at our practice, has proved successful enough to have gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

According to migraine treatment expert Dr. Matthew Kaufman, “We perform hundreds of therapeutic botox injections for migraine sufferers, most of whom report anywhere from moderate to significant improvement in both the frequency and intensity of their headaches.  All of our patients are also under the care of a neurologist or other headache specialist to coordinate other forms of therapy.

Botox relaxes muscles around the face and neck.  There is a theory that migraine headaches are caused by inflammation in the small nerves and blood vessels in different parts of the head, and so by reducing pressure around the nerves, there is less inflammation in those blood vessels, and less headaches occur.”

In addition, in selected cases, and those who have been successful with Botox, we perform minimally invasive surgical procedure for “trigger point site release.”

“Trigger point release is a procedure that permanently may reduce or relieve migraine headaches.  It is basically the surgical equivalent of what botox does on a temporary basis – relieving pressure on the small nerves in the areas where the headaches occur.  The surgery is minimally invasive and done on an outpatient basis.”

We have now treated between 10 and 20 patients with various types of migraine headaches, including a condition called occipital neuralgia. The vast majority of those treated have experienced some benefit, usually manifesting as a reduction in the intensity and frequency of headaches.  A few patients have actually been completely cured of their headaches altogether.”
We care about pain management, and understand the desire for migraine suffers to explore relief. That’s why we employ these cutting-edge procedures when possible.

The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that there is a significant opportunity for adult migraine sufferers to benefit from the FDA’s approval of Botox® to treat chronic migraines.

“Migraine headaches can be a debilitating condition, which is often difficult to treat with medication,” said Dr. Matthew Kaufman, of the Plastic Surgery Center.  “We have been very encouraged by patients’ success in receiving Botox for migraine treatment and believe the FDA’s approval for Botox has implications to help the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer chronic migraines.”

To treat chronic migraines and mitigate future symptoms, Botox is administered approximately every three months as multiple injections around the head and neck.  Certain types of migraines and headache conditions respond to Botox better than others.  Only a physician experienced in treating migraines with Botox will be able to determine if someone is a candidate for this type of treatment.  The Plastic Surgery Center advises patients speak with a doctor to determine if Botox is the right treatment.

Dr. Kaufman is part of the medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center, which is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available.  Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes

• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit www.advancedreconstruction.com, www.facebook.com/ThePlasticSurgeryCenter, www.twitter.com/PlasticSurgNJ.

SHREWSBURY, N.J. – October 20, 2009 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that a 57-year-old Plainfield man reports he is free of constant headache pain after undergoing a new cutting edge nerve procedure to permanently eliminate pain caused by migraines. The procedure was performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Matthew Kaufman, of the Plastic Surgery Center in New Jersey on August 4, 2009.

 The surgery was performed on Mr. Edgar Freire, a constant migraine sufferer, who was not obtaining pain relief from medication.  As part of the procedure, Dr. Kaufman released muscle tissue around Mr. Freire’s supraorbital nerve (upper eyelid area) to relieve the tension causing his severe migraine pain. The surgery, called “nerve decompression,” is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure and took approximately one hour.

 “I was very pleased to hear of Edgar’s results,” said Dr. Kaufman. “As migraine headaches are often difficult to treat with medication, we are encouraged by the success of nerve decompression surgery around the peripheral trigger sites of these headaches. In fact, as recent studies have shown (as published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), the surgery has proven effective in eliminating the pain in patients suffering from chronic moderate to severe migraine headaches.”

Dr. Kaufman is part of the medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center, which is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available.  Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

•  Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

 About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.