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Therapeutic wrinkle relaxer protocol for chronic migraine in Kew, Melbourne

Migraine Treatment Melbourne

Doctor-administered injectable migraine prevention for patients with chronic migraine: using the same active ingredient family as cosmetic wrinkle relaxer, applied to evidence-based protocols developed for migraine prophylaxis.

Reviewed by Dr Rakib Uddin AHPRA MED0001936872

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  • Performed by Dr Rakib and his team
  • Personalised assessment first
  • Clear advice, including when not to treat
Migraine treatment by Dr Rakib at Aesthetic Doctors Australia in Melbourne
Performed by Dr Rakib

What it is

What is migraine treatment?

Migraine treatment with injectable neuromodulator is an evidence-based protocol for chronic migraine: using the same active ingredient class as cosmetic wrinkle relaxer, applied to a standardised pattern of sites around the head, neck and shoulders.

It's a therapeutic medical treatment, not a cosmetic one, and works as an adjunct to neurological management, not in place of it. Best evidence is for chronic migraine (defined as ≥15 headache days per month). Episodic migraine generally responds less reliably and is usually best managed neurologically.

  • Suitable for

    Chronic only

    Best evidence is for chronic migraine (≥15 headache days/month).

  • Effect window

    2–3 months

    Reduction in headache days emerges over weeks, not days.

  • Not replacement

    Adjunct

    Works alongside neurology care, not in place of it.

What it treats

What does migraine treatment treat?

Migraine treatment is most often planned for chronic migraine (≥15 headache days per month, ≥8 migraine days). The treatment only makes sense when it matches the cause of your concern; here is where it fits.

  • Chronic migraine prophylaxis

    Explore this concern

    Why it happens

    Chronic migraine has central and peripheral mechanisms: the peripheral nerve sensitisation that drives many migraines is what this treatment is thought to interrupt.

    Treatment role

    Reduces frequency and intensity of migraine days for many patients with chronic migraine, alongside their existing neurology care.

From the clinic

Migraine treatment, in practice.

Selected imagery from the clinic: the same material discussed at consultation.

2 images · tap to enlarge

Imagery reflects work performed at the clinic. Individual results vary: outcomes depend on anatomy, the agreed plan and aftercare. Shown for education, not as a guarantee of result.

How it works

How does migraine treatment work?

01 / 03

How it's thought to work

By blocking transmission at peripheral nerve endings and reducing the inflammatory release that sensitises trigeminal nerve fibres, the treatment reduces the threshold at which a migraine attack triggers. The exact mechanism remains under investigation; the clinical evidence base for the standard injection pattern is established.

Doctor-administered migraine treatment at Aesthetic Doctors Australia Step 02

02 / 03

The PREEMPT protocol

The evidence-based migraine pattern places multiple small doses across the forehead, temples, occipital region, neck and trapezius, typically 31 sites bilaterally. This standardised distribution is what produces the documented response; ad hoc 'migraine' injection patterns don't have the same evidence.

Therapeutic injection at Aesthetic Doctors Australia Step 03

03 / 03

Why this is doctor-only

Multiple injection sites near major vessels and nerves, a higher dose than cosmetic treatments, and patients with established neurological diagnoses make this medical work. A doctor familiar with both injectable medicine and headache disorders runs the consultation.

Whether it suits you

Is migraine treatment right for you?

The two lists below are where that answer starts; it is confirmed in person, never assumed. Balanced information protects you.

May be suitable for

  • Chronic migraine (≥15 headache days per month, ≥8 with migraine features)
  • Patients under neurology care who want an adjunctive prevention option
  • Patients who've tried oral preventives without adequate response

May not be suitable for

  • Episodic migraine, usually managed differently
  • Undiagnosed headache pattern: assessment by a neurologist or GP first
  • Secondary headaches needing investigation
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Alternatives worth discussing

The assessment

What happens at a migraine treatment consultation?

Expertise shows in process. Before any recommendation, your consultation examines:

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  1. 01

    Migraine pattern: frequency, severity, triggers, duration

  2. 02

    Existing neurological care. We work alongside, not instead of

  3. 03

    Current medications (acute and preventive)

  4. 04

    Previous prevention strategies and response

  5. 05

    Realistic expectation-setting about likely effect size

What to expect

How long does migraine treatment take to work?

The short version: reduction in headache days over 2–3 months; reassessed before continuing. Stage by stage:

  1. Day 0

    Treatment day

    31-site bilateral injection pattern; no immediate change in headache pattern.

  2. Weeks 2–4

    Early effect

    Some patients notice reduction in headache days; many don't until later.

  3. Months 2–3

    Full effect window

    Maximum reduction in monthly headache days, reassessed at each visit.

  4. Every 3 months

    Re-treatment

    Standard interval. Continued if measurable benefit at review.

Aesthetic medicine

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

A consultation philosophy of restraint, anatomical precision and natural-looking outcomes: applied to migraine treatment planning.

Aesthetic Doctors Australia
by Dr Rakib

On the day

What happens during a migraine treatment appointment?

  1. 01

    Consultation

    Your concern, history and goals: discussed before anything else.

  2. 02

    Assessment

    Anatomy, suitability and alternatives examined properly.

  3. 03

    Planning

    A personalised plan with costs, staging and realistic outcomes.

  4. 04

    Procedure

    Performed by Dr Rakib or a clinician working to his plan, with comfort prioritised.

  5. 05

    Recovery

    Clear aftercare and direct access to the clinic with questions.

  6. 06

    Review

    Results checked against plan; refinements made where needed.

Recovery

What is recovery like after migraine treatment?

Typical downtime: no downtime; possible mild tenderness. The specifics:

What's normal afterwards

  • Pinpoint injection marks, settling within hours
  • Mild scalp/forehead tenderness
  • Possible mild headache the same day

What to avoid

  • Massaging treated areas for 24 hours
  • Strenuous exercise for 4 hours
  • Alcohol on treatment day

Risks and limits

What are the risks of migraine treatment?

No effective treatment is risk-free, and no treatment does everything. Knowing both sides is part of informed consent.

Possible side effects

  • Mild headache or scalp tenderness for 24 hours
  • Possible bruising at injection sites
  • Temporary brow heaviness or eyelid droop if forehead diffusion occurs
  • Neck stiffness for some patients

Limitations to understand

  • Doesn't work for every chronic migraine patient, about 50–60% respond meaningfully
  • Effect typically partial: fewer days, less severe, not zero migraines
  • Adjunctive to neurological care; not a substitute
  • Continued treatment required to maintain benefit

The alternatives

Migraine treatment compared with the alternatives

Injectable migraine treatment vs oral preventives

Injectable (every 3 months)

  • No daily medication
  • Localised to head/neck
  • Several months of effect

Oral preventives (daily)

  • Systemic action
  • Daily compliance required
  • Wider side-effect profile

Which one They aren't competitors: they're often combined. Your neurologist decides what fits your situation; we provide the injectable adjunct.

What it costs

What does migraine treatment cost?

You receive an itemised written quote at consultation, before committing to anything. The consultation is $75 for 45 minutes with Dr Rakib Uddin, redeemed against your treatment if you go ahead.

Pricing reflects the medical dose required for the PREEMPT protocol. Confirmed at consultation. Medicare may apply to neurology consultations but not to this private treatment.

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What determines your quote

  • 01 Higher dose than cosmetic wrinkle relaxer treatment
  • 02 Three-monthly schedule

You commit to nothing in advance: the consultation costs nothing and the quote is written before anything is booked. If the recommendation is not to treat, that advice is the whole appointment.

Afterpay acceptedZip accepted

Afterpay and Zip are available for treatment fees at the clinic, subject to each provider's own approval and terms.

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

Whatever is recommended at your consultation is planned by Dr Rakib and performed by him or a clinician on his team: never by 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 migraine treatment.

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

Will this work for my migraines?

If you have chronic migraine (≥15 headache days per month), about half to two-thirds of patients see a meaningful reduction. Episodic migraine responds less reliably. There's no way to predict your specific response except to try, which is why we review the response after 2–3 sessions.

How is this different from my cosmetic forehead treatment?

Same drug family, different protocol, different dose, different sites. The cosmetic dose to a few facial muscles is not enough for migraine prevention, and the migraine protocol covers areas your cosmetic treatment doesn't.

Do I need a referral?

Not legally, but ideally yes. Migraine treatment works best when coordinated with your neurologist or GP managing your overall headache care. We're happy to write to them after assessment.

How long until I'd know if it's working?

Standard practice is to reassess after 2–3 treatment cycles (6–9 months). One round isn't enough to judge; full effect takes 2–3 months to emerge.

Why do you treat my neck and shoulders?

Because the PREEMPT evidence-based protocol includes those sites: they're part of the documented pattern that produces the response. Skipping them is what reduces effect.

What if it doesn't work for me?

We'd stop. Continuing a treatment that isn't reducing your headache days isn't worth the cost or the inconvenience. The plan is simple: try, measure, decide.

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Consultation first

Book a personalised consultation.

Discuss migraine treatment with Dr Rakib Uddin: your anatomy, suitability, alternatives and realistic outcomes, before any decision is made.

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.

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