Actress Nicole Kidman's smooth and wrinkle-free complexion at the recent Country Music Awards could be due to Botox treatment, it has been suggested.

After admitting to a German magazine earlier this year that she had tried Botox, the Oscar winner claimed she did not like the effect it had on her face.

She told the magazine: "I even tried Botox but I didn't like how my face looked afterwards. Now I don't use it anymore and I can move my forehead again."

However, rumours have emerged that Kidman has opted for the treatment again.

Although a representative for the Rabbit Hole star denied Kidman had changed her opinion and opted to use Botox again, a number of reports about the actress's wrinkle-free skin have speculated she has undergone treatment.

The procedure has a number of benefits when used cosmetically and has recently been found to help with various medical problems.

Website Love to Know reported that Botox injections have been used to assist in treatment for migraines as well as provide relief for men with enlarged prostate glands. 

Botox migraines Nicole Kidman Rabbit Hole

A woman whose life has been plagued by terrible migraines has put her faith in Botox as a method of relieving the pain.

Gillian Paterson, 40, told the Scotsman she was first diagnosed with chronic migraines at the age of 20 and has anything up to 15 attacks a month.

They force her to take time off work and lie in a darkened room for days on end, "paralysed by pain".

However, just before Christmas 2010, Ms Paterson had her first Botox treatment, with 33 injections to prevent pain messages being transferred up through her neck and shoulders.

Although it is early days, she said she used half the amount of pain medication she would normally have needed in the months afterwards, prompting her to hope that Botox may be a way forward.

In December 2010, Marie Mulholland told My Fox Tampa Bay that using Botox to treat her chronic migraines had made her feel like a normal human being for once.
 

Botox Marie Mulholland migraines Ms Paterson

A growing number of doctors and patients have cited Botox as an effective treatment for migraines.

Dr Chris Snijman, spokesperson for the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons in South Africa, told Times Live that a number of patients have experienced reduced headache symptoms after a Botox injection.

Although more commonly used as an anti-wrinkle procedure, the jab is now officially licensed for the treatment of headaches in several countries.

"If you paralyse the specific muscle group, you will decrease tension on the nerve and this can abort the initiation of a migraine," Dr Snijman explained.

Pinkie Fullenwider, an American woman who has experienced regular migraines for 50 years, said Botox injections have helped to reduce the pain and lessen the duration of her headaches.

She told the Journal and Courier in Indiana: "If I keep up with them, [the migraines] won't be as severe as before."

In the UK, Botox was approved for the treatment of chronic migraines in July last year.

Botox Dr Snijman migraine migraines Pinkie Fullenwider

An expert has insisted that there is evidence to show that Botox can work for some migraine sufferers.

A report published earlier this week by the British journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin argued that there is "limited" scientific proof to show that the drug can treat severe headaches because tests were inconclusive and unreliable.

However, Professor Paul Rolan from Australia told the Sydney Morning Herald that he uses Botox on around six patients a year and has seen good results for most of them.

Although he acknowledged that the effects may only last a few months and not everyone will suit the treatment, he said it does work and can have fewer side-effects than conventional medicines.

"A lot of people say they would willingly pay a thousand dollars if you could get rid of my migraines for three months," Professor Rolan pointed out.

Up to 700,000 people in the UK are currently affected by migraines.

Australia Botox migraines Professor Rolan

Botox has been recommended by two healthcare practitioners as a possible treatment for chronic migraines.

The drug has been used in Britain in the fight against the condition for some time and Dr Michael Sowell told the Louisville-Kentucky Journal that it may help to reduce the frequency, severity or duration of headache episodes.

He pointed out that migraines are a "disability" that can affect every aspect of a person's life.

Dr Vince Martin from the University of Cincinnati agreed, commenting that Botox may be useful for migraine patients who have side effects from other therapies.

However, Dr Sowell urged people not to see Botox as a magic bullet, pointing out that it must be used along with other methods of pain relief.

Last month, migraine sufferer Marie Mulholland told My Fox Tampa Bay her condition was made much better through the use of Botox, resulting in her hardly suffering any headaches anymore.
 

Botox Dr Sowell Marie Mulholland migraine migraines

A trial is being carried out to see if Botox could be used to help treat people with brain injuries and other neurological conditions.

Caulfield Hospital in Australia has won a grant to investigate the effects of Botox on dystonia, the involuntary muscle contractions that often occur after strokes and head injuries, the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader reports.

Five people have so far volunteered for trials and it is hoped that 12 people in total will be able to take part.

Dr Ettie Ben-Shabat said the research could help a lot of people.

"It doesn't matter whether patients are from Caulfield Hospital or Edinburgh. Clinicians from all over the world can use that information," she pointed out.

As well as treating wrinkles, Botox is also known to help relieve the pain associated with migraines and to stop excessive sweating.

Tests are also being carried out to see if it could help with cold sores and inflammatory pain.
 

Australia Botox migraines

A team of experts have spoken out in support of Botox as a treatment for migraines and chronic headaches.

Sheena Aurora, director of the Swedish Pain and Headache Centre in Seattle, told the Wall Street Journal that "Botox is probably the most well-studied therapy for chronic migraine and has the best evidence of efficacy".

Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute, told the news provider that although it cannot help everyone who suffers, it does significantly improve the lives of some of them in his experience.

Meanwhile, Dr David Simpson from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine also said that side effects are very unlikely at the dosages used for migraines.

Last month, chronic headache sufferer Marie Mulholland told My Fox Tampa Bay that she is thrilled with Botox after the treatment stopped her from experiencing them so often.

She said she now feels like a human being again after years of suffering.
  

Botox Joel Saper Marie Mulholland migraine migraines

A woman who had debilitating migraines from the age of 15 has praised Botox after the treatment stopped her headaches from occurring so often.

Marie Mulholland told My Fox Tampa Bay her condition affected everything from her school grades to her social life, as well as her employment, with bosses thinking she "just wanted to stay home and goof off".

After traditional treatments failed, Ms Mulholland agreed to try Botox when it was suggested to her by Dr Maria Carmen Wilson and the results have been phenomenal.

"I'm not taking any medication anymore. I don't feel any pressure anymore. It's wonderful … I'm like a normal human being for once," commented the patient.

Botox was approved in the US for migraine treatment in October 2010, with the UK having approved it in July this year.

It is thought that as many as 700,000 people in Britain suffer from chronic migraines, some of whom may benefit from Botox.
 

Botox Marie Mulholland migraines Ms Mulholland

A doctor in the US has praised Botox for treating migraines, shortly after the treatment was officially approved by the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr Carrie Jones, writing for EmpowHer.com, said her practice recently had a 19-year-old patient who was suffering so badly from headaches that she and the medics feared she had a brain tumour.

However, after ruling this out with an MRI scan, Dr Jones and her colleagues tried Botox.

"Instantly the headache was gone and has yet to return," she commented.

Dr Jones said Botox could be worth a try for those who have at least 15 migraine days a month and is usually comprised of 30 or so injections.

Both the UK and the US have now approved Botox for the treatment of severe headaches following a number of studies which proved its effectiveness.

The non-invasive procedure could cut migraines by up to half.
 

Botox Dr Jones migraines US

The US has followed in the UK's footsteps and given the all-clear for Botox to be used in the treatment of chronic migraines.

More than 1,300 patients were studied as part of trials for the drug, which is a purified form of botulinum.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the treatment for official use after it was found that it could significantly reduce the number of headaches sufferers had per month, improving their quality of life.

In one of the studies, patients given the Botox had two fewer days with headaches than was the case before.

Botox was approved in the UK for treating migraines in July 2010 following similar studies.

It is thought that as many as 700,000 people in Britain suffer from chronic migraines.

Meanwhile, Botox can also successfully treat some of the symptoms of cerebral palsy, as well as jaw problems that can be created as a result of teeth grinding or clenching.
 

Botox migraine migraines UK US