Understanding MiraDry: How Does It Eliminate Excessive Sweating?6 min read
Caroline Hedges
Imagine this: It’s a cool day and you’re not playing a sport or engaging in a workout, but your underarms are sweating like you’ve run a marathon. That’s hyperhidrosis. It’s like your body is running its own personal sauna, and it doesn’t bother asking your permission first. While sweating is a normal and necessary function for the body to cool itself down, hyperhidrosis takes things to an extreme that can be both inconvenient and embarrassing. Fortunately, we have a solution.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis’ abnormal sweating is not typically tied to regular triggers like heat or physical exercise. Hyperhidrosis is believed to stem from an overactive sympathetic nervous system, essentially leading to an overstimulation of the sweat glands.
This condition can be localized to certain areas of the body like the underarms, palms, soles, or face, known as primary focal hyperhidrosis. The excessive sweating can profoundly affect quality of life, potentially causing psychological distress and impacting social interactions.
In some cases, not even the early morning is free of excess sweat. Conditions like hyperhidrosis can be exacerbated by heavy blankets, warm room temperatures, hormonal imbalances, or sleep disorders. If hyperhidrosis is causing you or a loved one to lose sleep, it might be time to consider MiraDry
MiraDry: The Solution When Even the Best Deodorant for Excessive Sweating Does Not Work
MiraDry is a clinically-proven, FDA-cleared treatment that utilizes microwave technology to provide a long-lasting solution for excessive underarm sweating. It’s a non-invasive outpatient procedure that uses controlled electromagnetic energy to eliminate sweat glands under the arms. The fact that it is an outpatient procedure means that it does not involve surgical incisions or cuts, and the underarm skin is numbed for patient comfort.
Determining candidacy for the MiraDry procedure involves careful consideration of the individual’s symptoms, their impact on daily life, and overall health status. It is a decision best made in consultation with a healthcare provider.
MiraDry is primarily considered appropriate for individuals suffering from excessive underarm sweating that has proven to be resistant to antiperspirants and other conservative treatments. Candidates typically have a history of sweat-related disturbances in their daily activities, social interactions, or psychological well-being.
What Does The MiraDry Procedure Look Like?
For those considering MiraDry treatment for excessive underarm sweating, it will be helpful to understand the details of the procedure. Prior to the procedure, a consultation with a healthcare professional is conducted to assess the patient’s suitability for treatment and to explain the procedure in detail.
On the day of treatment, the underarm area is first marked to outline the area for treatment. The markings help guide the placement of the MiraDry handpiece. Before the procedure begins, local anesthesia is applied to the underarm area to minimize discomfort. The anesthesia typically consists of a lidocaine injection, which numbs the skin and the subcutaneous tissues.
Following this, the MiraDry device, equipped with a handpiece, is applied to the marked area. The handpiece emits controlled electromagnetic energy into the area where the sweat glands reside. The MiraDry system uses a vacuum to bring the sweat glands closer to the skin’s surface, ensuring the electromagnetic energy is directed efficiently. At the same time, a cooling mechanism is activated to protect the upper layers of the skin and keep the patient comfortable during the procedure.
The procedure provides a permanent reduction of sweat glands in the treated area. Since these glands do not regenerate after they are eliminated, the results are permanent. As a result, patients often experience a significant and lasting reduction in underarm sweat after MiraDry treatment.
What Should I Expect When Recovering From MiraDry?
After the MiraDry procedure, patients generally experience minimal downtime, allowing them to return to normal activities almost immediately. However, as with any medical treatment, some physical responses can be expected in the recovery period.
Immediately post-procedure, temporary side effects like swelling, redness, or tenderness in the underarms area may occur. These effects typically subside within a few days to a week. To help manage swelling and discomfort, it may be beneficial to apply ice packs intermittently to the treated area and to elevate the arms for a couple of days following the treatment.
Some patients may also experience temporary altered sensation in the skin of their underarms or upper arms. This might include numbness or tingling sensations. These sensory changes are typically transient and resolve over time. While most daily activities can be resumed immediately after the procedure, it is generally recommended to avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for several days to allow the body time to heal and to minimize discomfort.
The area treated with MiraDry should also be kept clean to prevent infection. Regular bathing can be resumed immediately, but the underarm area should be gently cleaned and dried. Patients are usually advised to wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing for a few days post-procedure to minimize irritation to the treated area.
What Results Will MiraDry Deliver?
A notable characteristic of sweat glands is that once they are destroyed, they do not regenerate. Therefore, the reduction in sweat production attained through MiraDry is typically permanent. Clinical studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in underarm sweat in patients after MiraDry treatment. On average, patients experience an 82% reduction in underarm sweat.
In addition to reducing underarm sweat, many patients also report a decrease in underarm odor and hair following the MiraDry procedure. This is because the microwave technology targets not only the sweat glands but also the hair follicles and apocrine glands, which are responsible for body odor.
It’s also worth mentioning that results can vary among individuals, and the amount of sweat reduction depends on the severity of hyperhidrosis and individual response to the treatment. While some patients may achieve desired results with a single treatment, others may require a second treatment to fully address their hyperhidrosis.
Despite the significant reduction in underarm sweat, the body retains the majority of its sweat glands and therefore its ability to cool itself. This is because the underarms house only about 2% of the total number of sweat glands in the body.
While the primary benefit of MiraDry is the reduction in underarm sweat, an ancillary benefit often reported by patients is an improvement in their quality of life. For many patients, reduced sweat can lead to increased confidence and decreased anxiety in social and professional situations.
Ready to Say Goodbye to Excessive Sweating? Try MiraDry!
Are you ready to say goodbye to excessive sweating? Try MiraDry! Meet us at 19500 Sandridge Way, Suite 350, Leesburg, VA 20176, or call us at (703) 574-4342 for a complimentary consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Phillip Chang before moving forward with your procedure! If everything matches up, our team will help you navigate the entire process from beginning to end! Also, remember to check out our blog and social media for more information on plastic surgery and plastic surgery trends!
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