miraDry

How it works

A handpiece delivers microwave energy to the layer of skin where sweat and odor glands sit, while a cooling system protects the surface. The energy heats and disables the glands in the treated underarm area, which may reduce sweating and odor. Hair follicles in that area may also be affected, and some people notice less hair. Because the glands are removed rather than paused, the reduction tends to be long-lasting for many people, though the degree of change varies and is not predictable.

Who it may suit

• Underarm sweating that has not responded well to antiperspirants
• People who want to avoid repeated botulinum toxin injections for the underarms
• Underarm odor linked to the sweat glands in that area
• Patients who can accept several days to two weeks of swelling and tenderness

The treatment day

1. Evaluation and marking. The doctor reviews your sweating pattern and health history, then marks the treatment area.
2. Local anesthesia. Numbing medication is injected into the underarm so the procedure is tolerable.
3. Microwave delivery. The handpiece is applied across the marked area in sections, with cooling at the skin surface.
4. Cooling and instructions. Ice packs are used and written aftercare is explained before you leave.

Aftercare

• Apply cold packs as instructed during the first days
• Avoid strenuous exercise and heat until the doctor says swelling has settled
• Take only the medications the doctor recommends for discomfort
• Keep the area clean and report increasing pain, spreading redness, or fever promptly

Things to know first

• Swelling, soreness, bruising, and temporary numbness or altered sensation in the underarm or inner arm can occur
• Rare complications include burns, blistering, infection, or nerve irritation that may last longer
• Hair reduction in the area may occur and is not something you can choose
• It is not suitable for people with certain implanted electronic devices or underarm skin infection; discuss your history in full
• Sweat on other body areas is not treated, and results differ from person to person

What to check before booking miraDry in Gangnam

Begin with the question of who performs it. Because anesthesia is injected and a burn is possible, you want a physician involved, ideally one who can explain the procedure and manage complications. Ask how often the doctor performs it, and whether the one who examines you is the one who operates.

Ask which device is used. The original system is made by miraDry; other microwave-like devices exist, and a menu name may not tell you which one is meant. Ask for the manufacturer and model, and whether the handpiece is single-use or has a counted number of treatments. A clinic that answers directly is a better candidate than one that cannot.

Finally, judge the consultation by how it handles the alternatives. A thorough one will ask whether botulinum toxin, prescription antiperspirants, or oral medication might suit you better, and will explain that this procedure has downtime and cannot be undone. If you hear only upsides, or are pressed to start a package at once, that is a reason to keep comparing.