ALL ABOUT MIRADRY: PRICES, PROCEDURE, SIDE EFFECTS, RECOVERY

29 May ALL ABOUT MIRADRY: PRICES, PROCEDURE, SIDE EFFECTS, RECOVERY

miraDry was cleared by the U.S. FDA in 2011 and CE-marked in Europe to treat axillary hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweating, and is now available in more than 50 countries worldwide. (Looking for miraDry near you? Use this miraDry locator).

miraDry was also FDA-cleared in 2015 to permanently eliminate underarm hair of all colors as well as odor glands (which are just a different kind of sweat gland); making it the first FDA-cleared device available to halt unwanted underarm sweat and hair growth while also eliminating odor-producing glands. (For hair reduction, the device is sometimes called miraSmooth instead of miraDry.) Generally, we’ll focus on miraDry’s sweat-stopping capabilities. If you want more information on permanent hair-zapping, visit www.mirasmooth.com. Keep in mind that a benefit of miraDry/miraSmooth for permenant hair removal is that, unlike laser hair removal, it works no matter what color your skin or hair is.

A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy in 2013 showed that miraDry was effective in treating both axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis and axillary osmidrosis (foul-smelling sweat). As part of the study, 11 patients in Asia were treated with miraDry and then evaluated 7 months later for improvement of symptoms. At the follow-up, 83.3% of the underarms treated were determined to have experienced a 2 point improvement in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS). Among those underarms that had exhibited foul odor (osmidrosis), 93.8% showed good to excellent results.

In April 2012, clinical data from the University of British Columbia showed that miraDry was successful in reducing underarm sweat in over 90% of patients. The average sweat reduction was 82%. Patients rated their satisfaction with the treatment at 90%.

Recently, Carolyn Jacob, MD wrote the following in an article published in the March 2013 edition of peer-reviewed Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery:

“The treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis can be rewarding using noninvasive microwave technology. Because the microwaves preferentially target the region of skin where the sweat glands reside, leading to localized thermolysis of the sweat glands, patients can now benefit from permanent targeted sweat reduction. The microwave treatment has been shown to be safe and effective in >6000 procedures to date.”

miraDry has been developed by Miramar Labs of Sunnyvale, California.

While miraDry is promising news for those who suffer with underarm sweating, the device not yet “cleared” – or optimized – for use to  treat excessive sweating of other areas such as hands or feet. Feasibility studies of a smaller device for use on non-underarm arease are currently underway and we should hopefully know more by the end of 2017.

miraDry uses a non-invasive handheld device to deliver precisely controlled electromagnetic energy beneath the underarm skin to the specific area where sweat glands are located, resulting in thermolysis (decomposition by heat) of the sweat glands. While the sweat glands are being eliminated through electromagnetic technology, the top layers of the skin are simultaneously cooled and protected. Sweat glands are not believed to grow back after treatment so the effect can be seen almost immediately and results are lasting. Some patients may only need one treatment but, for best results, two procedures spaced three months apart are recommended (occasionally a third treatment may be required.)

While Miramar Labs is the first company to gain FDA clearance to use electromagnetic energy to combat excessive sweating (by eliminating or damaging sweat glands), the technology has been used safely in other areas of medicine for years. Established medical uses of electromagnetic energy include applications for cardiology, cosmetics, general surgery, urology, and oncology.

The miraDry procedure is performed in the physician’s office and typically takes one hour. Local anesthesia (usually lidocaine injections) will be administered before starting the treatment. Patients usually experience little to no discomfort during the procedure and there is minimal to no downtime afterwards. A mild over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs are generally recommended for a few days. Most patients are able to return to normal activities or work right after the procedure, and can typically resume exercise within several days.