Cefaly Review

About Cefaly 

Cefaly offers a simple, drug-free solution to migraines. It stimulates and trains the nerve responsible for migraines so that, over time, it’ll react less. It has an easy application process and action plan, plus more than 8k followers on Instagram.

However, drug-free treatments can appear too good to be true so it’s important to exercise caution before purchasing one.

That’s why you should read through my Cefaly review as you’ll learn everything you need before you pick up the product, including how it works, who it’s for, and what customers think about it.

Pros & Cons

Before I get into all the details, let me tell you about some of Cefaly’s pros and cons: 

Pros

1. Easy to use: Cefaly is a wireless, portable device that is easy to use.
2. Non-drug treatment: Cefaly is a drug-free alternative treatment for migraines.
3. FDA approved: Cefaly is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of acute migraines and for migraine prevention.
4. Reduces migraine frequency: Clinical studies have shown that patients who use Cefaly have seen a 50% or greater reduction in monthly migraine attacks.

Cons

1. Cost: Cefaly can be expensive, with the newest dual model retailing at $379.
2. May cause side effects: Some users of Cefaly have reported experiencing side effects such as discomfort, tingling, or a burning sensation at the electrode site.
3. May not work for everyone: Cefaly may not be effective for all patients with migraines.
4. May cause drowsiness: Cefaly is used before sleep and can make the user feel drowsy.

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Our team spends hours researching, consulting with medical experts, gathering insight from expert professionals, reviewing customer feedback, and analyzing products to provide you with the information you need.

Features

Cefaly is a non-invasive, drug-free device used for the treatment and prevention of migraines. Here are some of the features of Cefaly:

1. Non-invasive and drug-free: Cefaly is a non-invasive device that does not require any medication to use. It delivers electrical impulses to stimulate the nerves on the forehead that are believed to play a role in migraines.
2. External trigeminal nerve stimulator: Cefaly is an external trigeminal nerve stimulator that is worn on the forehead to stimulate and desensitize the trigeminal nerve.
3. Clinically proven: Cefaly is clinically proven to relieve migraine pain and reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. A 2018 review found that regular use of Cefaly changes pathways in the trigeminal nerve, which in theory could result in fewer migraine symptoms.
4. FDA-cleared: Cefaly is the first FDA-cleared device of its kind for the treatment of migraine headaches. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute migraines and for migraine prevention.
5. Different treatment modes: Cefaly combines preventive and acute treatments. Users can use the device for daily prevent treatments to reduce migraine intensity and frequency and use the acute treatment mode during a migraine attack to relieve pain.
6. ISO certified: Cefaly is the first cranial analgesic electrotherapeutic device to acquire ISO medical certification, proving its effectiveness on migraine pain with no side effects. Cefaly’s patented design uses TENS technology, which has been researched in medical circles for over 40 years. TENS technology is known for its safety and dramatic absence of side effects.

Recent Studies On Migraine Mitigation

So, are electrical impulses an effective way to help mitigate migraines? Here’s what the science says:

One study published in 2019 provided a comprehensive overview of clinical electrophysiology studies investigating changes in information processing of migraine with aura patients. The study found that abnormalities in alpha rhythm power and symmetry, the presence of slowing, and increased information flow in a wide range of frequency bands often characterize the condition.

Another study published in 2018 found that targeting the electrical activity that causes the aura is fundamental in starting the migraine. Researchers in this study changed the salt concentration in the brain to alter electrical activity.

A systematic review published in 2021 found that electrical nerve stimulation, including percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), were effective treatments for migraines. The review found that these treatments had a positive effect on pain reduction and quality of life, and were safe to use.

Another study from 2021 recorded electrical patterns and networks associated with migraines in mice, capturing electrical recordings from 14 areas of the brain, and identified potential new drug targets for the treatment of migraines.

A study from 2017 assessed the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) in migraine treatment. The study found that PENS was effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Overall, these studies suggest that electrical impulses can be effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines, and that targeting electrical activity in the brain may offer potential new treatment options.

Cefaly Review 

Cefaly promotes three main benefits:

• It can reduce the pain associated with acute migraines
• It may prevent future migraines
• It can reduce the number of migraines you experience by up to 50%

Some of its other benefits include, it’s hormone and drug-free, you can use it anywhere, and it’s available without a prescription

The Cefaly site sells three different products, though one is simply the electrodes you need to use the device in the first place. The Cefaly Enhanced is the company’s basic device and it costs $389.

The Cefaly Connected works similarly but connects to the CeCe Migraine Management App for more robust care. It costs $424. The electrodes I spoke about cost $25 per pack of three. 

It may not be clear how you use those products yet. Don’t worry though, as I’ll cover the details in the next section of this Cefaly review.

How Cefaly Works 

Migraines are detected in the trigeminal nerve. This nerve reacts and sends painful impulses that we call migraines, but there are ways to dampen how much this nerve reacts to external stimuli and thus reduce migraines.

That’s essentially what Cefaly does. It sends electrical impulses to the trigeminal nerve to occupy it and train it to react less as time goes on. Eventually, the nerve shouldn’t send such strong impulses. 

As such, there are two settings for Cefaly to combat migraines. The Cefaly manual explains it more in-depth, but in a nutshell, there are acute migraine actions and migraine-prevention plans.

The former can quell fast-acting flare-ups and thus is more powerful while the latter can be used every day to train the trigeminal nerve so that eventually it doesn’t react as harshly.

To use the Cefaly, you’ll first apply one of the Cefaly electrodes to your forehead. You’ll then attach your device to that electrode and select the Acute or Prevent plan. After that you just let it work. It’s that simple.

CeCe App Review 

The Cefaly app is called CeCe and it’s a migraine management tool with plenty of built-in features based on tracking your history with migraines. The app can:

• Log migraines
• Measure symptoms, triggers, and reactions
• Chart your attacks over time
• Help you build an action plan with reminders and notifications
• Collect data via charts and graphs

One of the best features of the app is that it has a private journal feature where you can describe your migraines and symptoms in your own words. Freedom like this isn’t common in healthcare apps, so I’m happy to find it in Cefaly’s.

Does Cefaly Work?

I’ll tell you some details about third-parties studies later in this Cefaly review, but spoilers: they paint a positive portrait of the product. Plus, plenty of customers have noticed improvements in their symptoms too.

Who would I recommend Cefaly to?

I’d recommend Cefaly to people who know without a shadow of a doubt that migraines are the source of their pain. This may sound silly, but I’m stressing that because Cefaly only works to quell migraines. It cannot remedy other headaches.

Who I wouldn’t recommend Cefaly to?

For safety reasons, those with cardiac pacemakers or metallic head implants shouldn’t use Cefaly.

Alternatives To Cefaly

If you looking for something similar to what you read in this Cefaly review then consider checking out some of these brands:

1. Cove Migraines: affordable prescription migraine remedies
2. K Health: a service that connects Americans with clinicians so they can receive medical guidance and medication
3. Green Roads: a CBD company whose products can promote relaxation and combat migraine symptoms 

What Do Experts Think? 

While conducting research for this Cefaly review, I found a study that looked at the effects of electrical impulses on migraines. The study compared how well treatment similar to Cefaly’s remedies for migraines compared to a control group. 

In the study, nearly 60% of participants said that their migraines reduced in pain and severity after using electrical stimulation. This was much higher than 30% of participants in the control group who reported better migraine outcomes. 

This study led experts to find a positive correlation between electric impulse devices (like Cefaly’s) and reduced migraine symptoms. There also weren’t any Cefaly side effects observed so it seems like these treatments are safe.

Cefaly Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Here are some aggregate Cefaly review scores from customers on various websites:

• Reviews.io: 3.8/5 stars based on more than 20 pieces of customer feedback
• Amazon: 3.7/5 stars based on more than 130 pieces of customer feedback
• Trust Pilot: 3.2/5 stars based on one piece of customer feedback

As a whole, buyers said that Cefaly worked to relieve their migraine symptoms. Some described the sensations as demanding (which can put off some potential buyers) but ultimately rewarding. One Cefaly review went as such:

“While it takes an hour for the abortive program to complete and the stimulation can be intense at times, it is worth it as I always feel at least somewhat better if not relief after use. Typically I find the sharp stabbing pain and the nausea symptoms are much better after use, whereas the tiredness and dull pain still takes a bit to resolve. “

Another customer gave some insight into what the Cefaly device feels like in action. They wrote, “Works extremely well for sinus, tension and for some but not all migraines. You get one electrode strip in this pack that lasts 3 weeks… The device charges nicely, easy to carry around, and easy to use. It feels like the device is massaging your head but once it’s done it feels like a bunch of ants running around inside your head for a bit.”

Negative Cefaly reviews didn’t mention that the device didn’t work but that the electrodes it uses have starkly risen in price.

Long-time Cefaly users say that the electrodes were formerly much less expensive. That being said, this is a minor complaint as the people who wrote those Cefaly reviews still used the product, they just didn’t enjoy the price increase.

Allow me to cap off this section of my Cefaly review with one final customer testimonial:

“Noticed a difference the first week I began using it. In the past 10 months I’ve only had 3 migraines, but they were mild by comparison, severity and length has been cut by 60%. Even regular headaches are nearly nonexistent. It’s easy to use and best of all, no chemicals. I am so grateful to have found Cefaly and my eye doctor recommends it to other patients who are migraine sufferers.”

Is Cefaly Legit?

There wasn’t anything sketchy that popped up while I was researching for this Cefaly review. The product and company appear to be safe and reputable.

Is Cefaly Worth It?

There haven’t been any long-term studies looking into how Cefaly affected migraines months or years after usage, so I can’t say how well the device holds up in that regard. However, I can say that it seems like a solid way to deal with headaches in the short term.

Where To Buy Cefaly 

“Cefaly CostCo” is a popular search term because the retailer sells similar devices. However, the name-brand Cefaly can be acquired on the company’s website, cefaly.com, or on Amazon.

FAQ

Who owns Cefaly?

Based on the information available online, Cefaly’s founders Dr. Pierre Rigaux and Pierre-Yves Muller still own the brand.

Where does Cefaly ship to?

Cefaly can ship to locations in the United States, Canada, and Europe. I’m not sure if this includes all countries in Europe or just members of the EU.

What is Cefaly’s Shipping Policy?

The only information Cefaly publishes about shipping on their website is that Canadian and US customers should receive their orders within one week while European shoppers will get theirs in two weeks. Some customers may have to pay import fees because the items come from Belgium.

What is Cefaly’s Returns Policy?

You can send your Cefaly product back up to 90 days after receiving it. Cefaly states“the device and accessories must be in the same condition they were received and in the original packaging.” You are responsible for paying return shipping fees.

How to contact Cefaly 

I’ll conclude my Cefaly review by telling you how to contact the company. The easiest way to do so is by emailing [email protected].

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