Feeling trapped by chronic migraines?
Migraine Surgery can be Life-changing
At Oxford Migraine Practice, we help people living with debilitating migraines and chronic headaches by offering minimally invasive surgery to relieve pressure on nerves in the head and neck. We are the only team dedicated to offering this highly specialised form of migraine surgery in the UK.
Does this sound like you?
- You’re missing work, cancelling plans, and living in fear of the next attack
- You’ve changed your diet, your sleep, your lifestyle
- You’ve tried multiple different migraine medications, but the pain keeps returning
- Preventative drugs either don’t work or the side effects are unbearable
- You’ve waited months for specialist appointments, only to hear the same advice
You’re Not Alone in This Struggle
- 1 in 7 people in the UK live with migraines
- 190,000 migraine attacks occur in England every day
- The average migraine sufferer waits 8.5 years for proper treatment
- 43% of UK migraine sufferers feel their condition is poorly managed by healthcare providers
A Surgical Solution to Migraine – Now in the UK
For over 20 years, surgeons in the US have offered peripheral nerve decompression surgery to migraine sufferers. This minimally invasive procedure targets the root cause of migraines in many patients by releasing compressed nerves that trigger the attacks.
This is a proven, evidence-backed approach that has improved the lives of thousands worldwide.
SURGERY CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE:
A 2022 study found that 40% of patients who had migraine surgery experienced elimination of their migraines
The same 2022 study found that approximately 85% of patients experienced an overall improvement
In a 2016 study of 270 patients undergoing migraine surgery, 84% of patients reported an at least 50% reduction in migraine days per month
Trusted by leading medical institutions
- Robust evidence: Hundreds of published scientific studies support the effectiveness of migraine surgery
- World-leading centres: Institutions like the Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School) have dedicated migraine surgery programs
- Global adoption: Centres in the USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and South Africa offer this procedure
- Specialist recognition: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recognises migraine surgery as a standard, accepted treatment for refractory migraine headaches
Why Oxford Migraine Practice?
- All of our surgeons are fully qualified, GMC-accredited Consultant Plastic Surgeons with decades of experience in nerve decompression
- Our surgeons lead internationally recognised research into nerve compression at the University of Oxford
- Our team has trained internationally in migraine surgery, including with Dr Bahman Guyuron, the pioneer of migraine surgery
- We combine the most effective and innovative techniques from leading specialists worldwide, adapted for UK patients
- Bespoke surgery – every patient’s surgical plan is tailored to their symptoms
- Not everyone is suitable for migraine surgery, and we take great care to identify those most likely to benefit
A safe and proven approach
Understandably, the idea of surgery can sound daunting – but this isn’t brain surgery.
Migraine surgery is only “skin deep”: it targets small peripheral nerves just beneath the skin and muscle, while the brain itself is never involved. It is a well-established type of peripheral nerve surgery, very similar in principle to the common operation used to release a pinched nerve in the hand for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The procedure is minimally invasive, with discreet scars that fade over time and often become almost invisible. Operations typically take between one and three hours and, in some cases, can be performed under local anaesthetic. Many patients are able to return home the same day.
This treatment is supported by more than 25 years of research and refinement. It is now offered as standard care in leading hospitals around the world.
Treatment availability in the UK
Peripheral nerve decompression surgery for migraines is well-established in leading centres across the US and Europe. In the UK, new treatments often take years to become available on the NHS, even when the evidence for efficacy is strong.
Currently, many NHS clinicians are unfamiliar with this specialist procedure, which is why access is limited to private practices like ours.
What you can expect
Your journey to migraine relief
We’ve designed a clear, step-by-step process to make sure we understand your headaches before recommending treatment.
Video consultation
If we think you might be a candidate for migraine surgery, we’ll invite you for a remote video consultation to discuss your symptoms, explain what migraine surgery involves, and answer your questions.
- Detailed medical history review
- Online consultation with our surgeons
- Personalised treatment plan development
- Clear explanation of your options
Clinical assessment
For most patients, the outcome from the video consultation is an invitation to a face-to-face appointment at our clinic at the New Foscote Hospital in Banbury. You will be asked to complete a headache diary before this appointment.
When we see you in the clinic, we will perform a physical examination and inject a muscle relaxant into targeted areas in your head and neck. The muscle relaxant injections temporarily simulate the effects of surgery, helping us to identify the nerves we should target surgically. You will complete a headache diary for four weeks after this appointment.
- Face-to-face consultation in Banbury
- Clinical examination
- Muscle relaxant injection trial (if appropriate)
Decision and planning surgery
About eight weeks after the muscle relaxant trial, we will review your response in a follow-up consultation. Together, we’ll decide whether to continue with the muscle relaxant, proceed to surgery, or explore other options. If surgery is right for you, we’ll explain the expected outcomes and guide you through the next steps.
- Review your response to the muscle relaxant injection trial
- Detailed discussion of surgical options
- Complete transparency about expected outcomes
- Support throughout the decision-making process
No pressure, no surprises
Rediscover peace, get in touch with our expert team today to start your journey.
Our friendly team are waiting to guide you through the whole process.