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1167 Burke Road, Kew VIC 3101

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Chronic migraine prevention assessment in Kew, Melbourne

Chronic migraines & tension headaches, explained.

Chronic migraine has evidence-based injectable treatment alongside neurological care. We provide the adjunctive treatment for patients with chronic migraine (15+ headache days per month): not as a substitute for neurology but as a recognised pathway alongside it.

Reviewed by Dr Rakib Uddin AHPRA MED0001936872

Book a consultation What treats it
  • The cause identified before any treatment
  • Assessed by Dr Rakib and his team
  • Alternatives explained, including not treating
  • A clear pathway to the right option
Commissioned editorial study for this concern
Assessment with Dr Rakib

What's happening

Chronic migraines & tension headaches: what is actually happening?

Chronic migraine (defined as 15 or more headache days per month, with at least 8 of those having migraine features) has an evidence-based injectable prevention pathway. The PREEMPT protocol places multiple small doses across the head, neck and shoulders following a standardised pattern.

We provide this treatment as adjunctive to a patient's neurological care, not as a substitute. Patients without neurological assessment of their headache pattern should consult a GP or neurologist first to confirm diagnosis and exclude secondary causes.

  • Best evidence

    Chronic only

    15+ headache days per month required for established efficacy.

  • Response rate

    50–60%

    Meaningful reduction in headache days for responders.

  • Not replacement

    Adjunctive

    Works alongside neurology, not in place of it.

The causes

Why does it happen?

Most cases come down to genetic predisposition, hormonal triggers, lifestyle factors, environmental triggers, undiagnosed secondary causes. More than one is usually contributing at once, which is why the cause gets named before any treatment is suggested.

  1. Primary migraine biology

    Genetic predisposition affecting trigeminal nerve sensitisation. Why some people get migraines and others don't.

  2. Triggers

    Specific stimuli (sleep change, certain foods, hormonal cycles, weather) set off attacks in predisposed individuals. Identifying personal triggers reduces frequency.

  3. Medication overuse

    Frequent acute treatment can paradoxically cause more headaches (medication-overuse headache). Often needs to be addressed before prevention is effective.

  4. Secondary causes

    Other medical conditions can present as headache. Why diagnosis by GP or neurologist matters before treating cosmetically.

The types

What are the different types?

There are 4 patterns worth telling apart, and the right plan depends on which one is yours.

  1. Chronic migraine

    15+ headache days per month, 8+ migraine days. PREEMPT evidence base.

    Migraine treatment

  2. Episodic migraine

    Less than 15 headache days per month.

    Discuss with neurologist first

  3. Tension-type with masseter component

    Tension headaches driven by chronic clenching may respond to masseter treatment.

    Masseter treatment

  4. Other / undiagnosed

    Headache pattern not yet investigated.

    GP/neurology referral

Which one is yours

Which one are you seeing?

Match what you notice in the mirror to a likely cause and the pathway worth discussing. It is a starting point, not a diagnosis: the assessment confirms it.

  1. If you notice

    “I have 15 or more headache days per month, often debilitating”

    Possible cause

    Chronic migraine

    Pathway

    PREEMPT injectable protocol alongside neurology care

    Migraine treatment

  2. If you notice

    “I get migraines occasionally: maybe once a fortnight”

    Possible cause

    Episodic migraine

    Pathway

    Less established evidence; neurology-led management preferred

    Discuss with neurologist

  3. If you notice

    “My headaches feel like jaw and temple tension”

    Possible cause

    Tension component

    Pathway

    Masseter assessment may help

    Masseter treatment

  4. If you notice

    “I haven't seen a doctor about my headaches”

    Possible cause

    Undiagnosed

    Pathway

    GP or neurology referral first

    Discuss referral

What treats it

Which treatment actually addresses it?

The one that matches your cause. Each pathway below pairs a driver with the plan Dr Rakib Uddin would discuss for it: same concern, different cause, different treatment.

  1. When diagnosed chronic migraine

    Best evidence base; adjunctive to neurology care.

  2. When tension-type with clenching component

    Different mechanism; addresses the muscle tension driver.

  3. When undiagnosed or episodic

    Diagnosis and care plan before considering injectable adjunct.

Where to go next

The treatment guides worth reading.

Each guide explains how the treatment works, who it suits, recovery and cost. The right one for your case is confirmed at assessment, not assumed online.

Migraine treatment being performed by Dr Rakib

Migraine treatment

For chronic migraine, assessed against the clinical criteria first.

Read the guide

Prevention

What slows it down?

The habits below protect the result of any treatment, and slow the concern when it is still early. None of them replace assessment; all of them help.

  • Establish neurology care

    Chronic migraine deserves specialist management. Injectable treatment works best as part of a coordinated plan, not in isolation.

  • Track triggers

    Headache diary identifies personal triggers (sleep, foods, hormonal cycles) that can be modified to reduce frequency.

  • Address medication overuse

    Frequent acute treatment can drive medication-overuse headache. Sometimes needs to be addressed before prevention works.

  • Don't self-diagnose

    Many headache patterns mimic migraine. Proper diagnosis matters because treatment differs.

Common beliefs

What do people get wrong about it?

The beliefs patients most often arrive with, next to what is actually true.

  • Commonly believed

    “Migraine injections cure migraines”

    In practice

    They reduce frequency and severity in about half of chronic migraine patients. They don't cure the condition. Realistic framing matters.

  • Commonly believed

    “Cosmetic wrinkle relaxer treatment helps migraines”

    In practice

    The cosmetic dose and pattern aren't the same as PREEMPT migraine protocol. Doing cosmetic upper-face treatment occasionally helps anyway; the migraine pattern is more comprehensive and structured.

  • Commonly believed

    “It only works for some migraines”

    In practice

    Different category: best evidence is for chronic migraine specifically. Episodic migraine has less evidence and is usually managed differently.

In consultation

“An evidence-based protocol for chronic migraine: adjunctive, not magical.”

Cause before treatment: how Dr Rakib Uddin approaches chronic migraines & tension headaches.

Dr Rakib Uddin, cosmetic doctor and founder of Aesthetic Doctors Australia

Your doctor

Dr Rakib Uddin

Cosmetic Doctor & Founder

  • MBBS (Qld)
  • BMedSci (Hons)
  • Dip. Surgical Anatomy
  • Fellow ACCSM

AHPRA MED0001936872

Every consultation for chronic migraines & tension headaches is performed by Dr Rakib and his team: never delegated to a non-medical injector.

Dr Rakib Uddin is a Melbourne-based cosmetic doctor with formal surgical-anatomy training and over a decade in medicine. He performs every consultation, treatment and review at Aesthetic Doctors Australia personally, and trains other doctors in advanced injectable technique at Derma Medical Academy.

“If a treatment isn't right for you, I'll tell you. Every plan is built around your anatomy, not a template, and the goal is always a refreshed version of you, not a new face.”
  • Listen to your concern in full
  • Comprehensive medical and aesthetic assessment
  • Step-by-step treatment plan: single session or staged
  • Full discussion of risks, limitations and alternatives
  • Decline to treat when a procedure would do more harm than good
About the practice

Expert questions

The questions worth asking about chronic migraines & tension headaches.

The questions that come up in the room, answered the way Dr Rakib answers them.

Do I qualify for this treatment?

Best evidence supports chronic migraine: 15 or more headache days per month, 8 with migraine features. If you don't meet this threshold, neurology-led oral preventives are usually the better path first.

Will it actually work for me?

About 50–60% of chronic migraine patients see meaningful reduction. There's no way to predict individual response except to try and reassess after 2–3 sessions.

How does it work with my existing medications?

It's adjunctive. Most patients continue their neurologist-managed medications alongside. We coordinate with your treating doctor.

Do I need a referral?

Not legally, but ideally yes. The treatment works best when coordinated with neurology care. We're happy to write to your treating doctor after assessment.

What if it doesn't work?

We stop. After 2–3 treatment cycles (6–9 months) without meaningful improvement, continuing isn't justified. Clear-eyed reassessment is part of the protocol.

Related concerns

All concerns

Teeth grinding & jaw tension

Bruxism, jaw tension and a widening lower face: one overworked muscle behind all three.

Read more →

Consultation first

Understand the cause. Then choose the pathway.

A consultation with Dr Rakib Uddin works out what's driving chronic migraines & tension headaches in your case, then matches the right treatment, an alternative, or no treatment at all.

Book a consultation Ask a question first

1167 Burke Road, Kew VIC 3101

Important treatment information

All information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Any before-and-after images shown are for illustrative purposes only and do not guarantee individual outcomes. Treatments performed by Dr Rakib Uddin (AHPRA MED0001936872) vary based on each patient's unique anatomy, medical history and needs. All cosmetic injectable treatments carry risks; a consultation is required prior to any treatment to assess suitability, discuss risks and alternatives, and establish realistic expectations.

Consultation Chronic migraines & tension headaches
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