miraDry for Hyperhidrosis

miraDry for Hyperhidrosis

miraDry, is the trademark name of a non-invasive microwave-based technology for the treatment of underarm (axillary) hyperhidrosis. It was developed by Miramar Labs in 2006 and got FDA clearance 2011. Currently, this procedure is available only for underarm hyperhidrosis and does not treat hyperhidrosis for hands or feet

How miraDry Works

While the technical details are complex, at the most basic level MiraDry works by directing a pulse of high energy microwaves to the sweat glands – generating heat that destroys the sweat glands in the underarm area, thus curing the person of underarm hyperhidrosis.

In parallel, a continuous cooling system protects the outer layer of the skin while heat continues to spread into the region where sweat glands reside, resulting in cellular thermolysis. Sweat glands do not regenerate, so once destroyed, the excess sweat glands are expected to be permanently disabled.

How MiraDry is used

• Outpatient physician visits for miraDry treatment typically take one hour during which a physician administers local anesthesia (usually lidocaine injections
• Then he/she uses the miraDry handheld device to deliver electromagnetic energy non-invasively to the underarms.
• The miraDry device cools the outer layer of the skin and patients usually experience little to no discomfort during the procedure.
• There is minimal to no downtime afterwards. Most patients are able to return to normal activities or work right after the procedure, and can typically resume exercise within several days.
• A mild over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs are generally recommended for a few days
• For some cases, it may require upto two procedures to fully destroy the sweat glands in the are.

 Side Effects

Common side effects include

• Mild to moderate temporary swelling and discomfort in the treatment area (generally lasting about one week)
• Mild numbness or altered sensation of the skin in the underarm area (can last several months)
• In rare cases, it has been reported that the process may destroy other nerve cells in the area causing numbness in the arms and fingers

Note that his process is relatively new, so the full extent of side effects or long term effectiveness is not known. Good news, however, is that compensatory sweating (sweating on other body parts, common after ETS surgery) has not been shown to be a concern.

Miradry Cost

The cost of the procedure depends on the provider, facilities and the location, but it broadly range between $1,500 – $4,000 for a single session (you may require upto 2 sessions)