What is miraDry®?
miraDry® is an innovative non-invasive treatment that effectively treats embarrassing underarm sweating without surgery. Instead, miraDry utilizes electromagnetic energy to eliminate underarm sweat glands for long-term results.
How Does miraDry® Work?
miraDry’s® FDA-cleared treatment uses thermal energy directed at sweat glands beneath the surface of your skin in the underarm area to reduce the amount and production capacity of sweat and odor glands. By heating these structures, a miraDry treatment destroys overactive glands to reduce your underarm’s ability to create sweat.
miraDry® Results
Because miraDry® effectively eliminates sweat glands in the target area, results from this treatment are long-lasting. A typical miraDry procedure takes about an hour and has been shown to produce an 82% reduction in sweating after just two treatments. Some patients can get their desired results of eliminating excessive underarm sweat in just one session, although the optimal results often take two and sometimes three.
Following each treatment, you can expect to resume your daily activities on the same day of your procedure with little to no downtime.
Before & After Results
How to Prepare for miraDry®
Because this procedure is non-invasive, it’s not difficult to prepare for a treatment session with miraDry. Depending on how fast your underarm hair grows, we will ask you to shave about a couple of days before your appointment and not shave again until after you’ve recovered. On the day of your procedure, do not apply deodorant or antiperspirant, and wear loose clothing with a tank top or sports bra that allows Dr. Krant to easily view and access your entire underarm area. You’ll need to plan for at least a two hour-long visit if taking time off work.
Recovery After miraDry®
There’s no downtime required after a miraDry treatment session, so you can return to work and your normal routine with a few instructions. First, you’ll want to ice the treated area with cold packs to help reduce swelling. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can also help. For several days, don’t shave or use deodorant in the treated area, and continue wearing loose clothing to help avoid creating irritation in your underarms.
Am I a candidate for miraDry®?
The ideal candidate for miraDry treatment is at least 18 years of age, in overall good health, and suffers from excessive underarm sweating. During your consultation, which will be prior to your treatment day, Dr. Krant will determine whether you are a good candidate for miraDry and will review the pros, cons and risks of the procedure with you.
Frequently Asked Questions about miraDry®
What is miraDry?
MiraDry is a device that uses microwave technology to selectively destroy sweat glands in the underarm area. For anyone with life-disrupting excessive sweating, this effective permanent treatment is a godsend.
How many sessions of miraDry are needed?
June 21, 2015nnMiraDry is a device that uses microwave technology to selectively destroy sweat glands in the underarm area. For anyone with life-disrupting excessive sweating, this effective permanent treatment is a godsend. Unlike Botox, it is permanent, and does not require repeated multiple injections every few months to maintain. It does require diluted local anesthesia at the time of treatment because the procedure generates heat during treatment. Lumps, swelling, tingling, and discomfort are pretty normal in the few weeks after the procedure, but cases of ongoing permanent problems are rare to nonexistent. Sometimes the treatment works in one session, sometimes a second treatment is required. Be sure that only your physician performs this treatment, to select the proper settings for safe but effective treatment. Lumps and red marks two months after treatment should gradually improve, but if you are still concerned, see your dermatologist for evaluation.
What is the difference between Botox and miraDry?
Unlike Botox, miraDry is permanent and does not require repeated multiple injections every few months to maintain. It does require diluted local anesthesia at the time of treatment because the procedure generates heat during treatment.
What are common side effects of miraDry?
Lumps, swelling, tingling, and discomfort are pretty normal in the few weeks after the procedure, but cases of ongoing permanent problems are rare to nonexistent.
Is miraDry a permanent solution for excessive sweating?
In most cases, physician-delivered miraDry treatment leads to permanent reduction of underarm sweat with very few unusual exceptions.
How many miraDry treatments will I need to see results?
It can take up to three full sessions to complete treatment, but results should be notable even after a single session, to the point that many patients choose to stop after just one session.
How long does a typical miraDry treatment session last?
The preparation for the treatment, which includes identifying the treatment zone, marking, and numbing, can take 20 to 45 minutes. Treatment of each underarm takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be treated.
Is the miraDry procedure painful?
With proper local anesthesia applied, the treatment itself should be painless or feel like a small amount of heat.
Will eliminating underarm sweat glands affect my body's ability to cool itself?
No. The body can safely regulate temperature through the rest of the skin’s surface area so overall body cooling ability is not a concern.
Can miraDry treat hyperhidrosis in other areas of the body besides armpits?
No. The device is designed only for underarm treatment.
Are the results of miraDry immediate?
Immediately after treatment, there is reduction of sweating, but as the inflammation and swelling from treatment improves, sweating may temporarily recur. In the weeks following, this sweating then slows down. For residual areas of sweating after about 8 weeks, we plan another session.
Can miraDry help with underarm odor as well?
Reducing sweating under the arms does help to reduce odor as well.
Will miraDry affect hair growth in my underarms?
miraDry has been shown to reduce under arm hair growth in some people, though this effect is not predictable and is not an official direct goal of treatment.
How long do I need to wait between miraDry treatments?
Dr. Krant recommends waiting two months between treatment sessions for maximum safety and allowing the optimal potential of each session to be revealed.
What should I do to prepare for a miraDry treatment?
Preparation for your treatment sessions should be discussed in person in detail with Dr. Krant, since everyone’s circumstances may be different. In general, arrive with no lotion, deodorant, or antiperspirant in the area, and with no open cuts, scrapes, or rashes. The question of whether or when to shave should be discussed with your dermatologist.
How long does the swelling last after a miraDry procedure?
The treatment does deliver significant heat in order to be able to give a permanent reduction solution. Swelling and bumpiness may last a few weeks. This is expected.
Will I need touch-up treatments in the future?
This may occasionally be necessary depending on an individual’s personal biology but in most cases the one to three sessions are enough for long-term satisfaction and improved quality of life.
What is the most serious risk associated with miraDry treatment?
It is very important to see a board-certified dermatologist for this procedure since it is a high-energy device that delivers significant heat under the skin surface to disable sweat glands. The proper identification of the treatment area, device energy settings, and proper anesthesia technique are all vital to minimizing the risks of the procedure, which can include burning or scarring of the skin and possible temporary irritation to rare permanent injury of nerves that run through the armpit itself.
miraDry® Treatments in New York City
Are you tired of stubborn sweat stains and unwanted underarm sweat that deodorant and antiperspirants can’t handle? You might benefit from this non-invasive approach to eliminating sweat glands from your underarms for permanent sweat reduction without the need for downtime. Contact Art of Dermatology at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York today to talk to Dr. Jessica Krant, a board-certified dermatologist offering miraDry in NYC, to find out if this procedure is right for you.
