Sweat. Just the word alone can make you start perspiring. The truth is, in most cases sweat is normal and healthy as it’s the body’s way of regulating its temperature. However, living with excessive sweating is a problem that is difficult to hide.
Excessive sweating can be anxiety provoking and hinder some from participating in everyday activities – wet underarms, prominent stains on your clothing, and fear of raising your arms in public are stressful enough. At one point or another, you’ve probably wondered if there was any way to stop the excessive sweating.
The good news is, there is light at the end of the tunnel—it’s called miraDry®, and we offer it at our Rochester practice. We are talking about a lasting, non-invasive solution that eliminates the underarm sweat glands entirely using heat energy. This approach is permanent and much more natural than antiperspirants.
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
There are 2 types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary. People with primary hyperhidrosis often inherit the condition from one of their parents. The condition typically worsens after reaching puberty, especially for women. Secondary hyperhidrosis may be caused by an underlying condition, which is why it’s important to discuss your excessive sweating with a physician.
Is miraDry Right for You?
Some key indicators that this treatment might be right for you are if you:
- Apply antiperspirant or deodorant more than once a day
- Worry someone will see your sweat stains
- Dress to hide sweat by avoiding certain colors or fabrics
- Have social anxiety because of your underarm sweat
- Have clothes you wish you could wear but know will draw attention to your sweat
If you can relate to these feelings, miraDry may be right for you. Social situations will no longer be uncomfortable, you’ll have the freedom to dress however you like, and you won’t have to worry about people noticing odor.
How Does miraDry Work?
MiraDry is a treatment administered by a licensed healthcare practitioner that uses thermal energy to permanently eliminate sweat glands and significantly reduces sweat, odor, and hair in as little as one treatment.
Is miraDry Safe? Don’t I need sweat glands?
While your body does need sweat glands to cool itself, your body has 2 to 4 million sweat glands—and only about 2% are found in your underarms. Eliminating this 2% of sweat glands does not affect your body’s ability to cool itself. With miraDry, you will experience the many benefits of reducing sweat in the underarm area, but you will continue to sweat in other areas of your body.
Are there other options for excessive sweating?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 3% of Americans have diagnosable excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). But the other 97% of us still experience underarm sweating and odor, sometimes so extreme that it affects our daily lives. While miraDry is often a preferred treatment to address the problem of excessive underarm sweating, BOTOX® injections can temporarily minimize excessive sweating as well.
Who Qualifies for the miraDry Procedure?
MiraDry is the only non-surgical, FDA-cleared procedure to treat excessive sweating. If sweat and odor have interfered with your daily activities or caused you stress, then this treatment is for you. If you have tried prescription-strength deodorants, oral medications, or are receiving BOTOX injections to help with your sweat and odor and have not had lasting results, miraDry is a great, permanent solution.
What’s the Procedure Like?
Most patients describe the 2-hour procedure as painless with little to no downtime. Local anesthesia is administered to the underarms prior to the treatment for patient comfort. During the procedure, you will feel the applicator suction to your skin to create a tight seal; this will be repeated many times throughout the treatment of the armpit to make sure we have destroyed all the sweat glands in that area.
Want to learn more about what the miraDry treatment is like? Read about Katie’s miraDry treatment and how she felt for the few days following the procedure.
Is There Downtime After miraDry?
Most patients return to regular activity (like returning to work) immediately. Exercise is typically resumed within 5 days.
What Results Can I Expect?
You can expect immediate and lasting results. Once the miraDry treatment eliminates the sweat and odor glands, they’re gone for good. The treatment is clinically proven to reduce sweat by 82%, and 89% of patients were no longer bothered by the odor.
Some patients require a second treatment to maximize results. If your sweating is severe even after an 82% reduction and you are looking for more improvement, we can discuss this at your consultation and find out if a second treatment may be necessary.
Are There Any Side Effects or Recovery Symptoms I Should Be Aware of?
You may experience swelling, numbness, bruising, and sensitivity in the underarm area for several days after treatment. However, the treatment is well-tolerated by most patients.
Don’t Let Sweat Get In the Way of Living
For more information on getting rid of your sweat and odor with miraDry, request your consultation using the online form or call us at (585) 272-0700. It’s important to speak with our professional providers during a scheduled consultation before treatment to ensure that miraDry is right for you.
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