Hello! I’m Kurosawa from Kokokara Acupuncture Clinic, Honjo.
Today’s topic might make you do a double take: “Wait — cosmetic surgery and headaches are related?!”
It turns out there’s a method for relieving migraines that was accidentally discovered in the world of cosmetic surgery.
Here’s the study:
Guyuron B, Varghai A, Michelow BJ, et al. Corrugator supercilii muscle resection and migraine headaches. Plast Reconstr Surg 2000;106:429-437.
In this study, people who underwent “frown line removal surgery” (resection of the corrugator supercilii muscle between the eyebrows) for cosmetic rejuvenation reported that about 80% experienced improvement in their migraines.
Why Did This Happen?
The corrugator supercilii muscle — the small muscle between your eyebrows — can compress a nerve that runs through it and extends up toward the head.
So by removing the muscle, the nerve compression was reduced, and the headaches improved. At least, that’s the theory.
But Here’s What Caught My Attention
This corrugator muscle is actually incredibly thin.
We use ultrasound to observe muscles and skin movement, and honestly, this muscle is so thin it’s barely visible even on ultrasound.
What’s more interesting to me is the lack of smooth gliding in the skin’s surface layer.
When I placed an ultrasound probe on my own forehead and compared before and after a skin-releasing technique, you could clearly see improved skin mobility and better movement in the surrounding tissues.
In other words, you might not need to remove the muscle at all. Simply getting the skin to move freely and glide smoothly could reduce stress on the nerve — and potentially ease the headache.
The Sunlight Connection
Here’s another interesting angle.
The corrugator muscle also serves to protect your eyes from bright light. When the sun is blinding, you naturally furrow your brow, right?
Some of my clients who:
- Work outdoors frequently
- Spend time in environments with strong sunlight
…found that simply wearing sunglasses made their headaches better!
The chain reaction looks like this:
Bright light → constant furrowing → muscle tension → nerve compression → headache
A Simple Self-Care Tip
For migraine self-care, try gently moving the skin on your forehead with light pressure. It sounds almost too simple, but it may be surprisingly effective!
Of course, not all headaches will respond to this. If you’re dealing with severe or persistent headaches, please see a specialist.
But if you tend to “furrow your brow” a lot, or if you’re sensitive to bright light — this is definitely worth a try!
Before You Visit…
Fair warning: our English is a work in progress! (Ha!)
But thanks to the magic of translation apps, we communicate just fine with patients from around the world.
Your body speaks a universal language — and that’s the one we’re fluent in.
