How does MiraDry permanently stop underarm sweat?
MiraDry permanently stops underarm sweat by delivering precisely targeted microwave energy to the subdermal tissue layer, destroying the local eccrine and apocrine glands through thermal decomposition. Because these sweat and odour glands cannot regenerate once eliminated, the dramatic reduction in underarm sweat is immediate and lifelong. During the procedure, the system uses localised suction to bring the sweat glands into ideal range of the energy delivery system. While the deep tissue is heated to clear the glands, the surface of your skin is continuously protected by an active hydro-cooling mechanism. This creates a safe, permanent structural change in the underarms without affecting your body's systemic temperature regulation.
Is the MiraDry procedure painful?
The MiraDry procedure is not painful because a local anaesthetic is administered to completely numb both underarms prior to starting. While you will feel a few minor pinpricks during the initial numbing phase, you will only feel a gentle suction and a cooling sensation during the actual treatment. After the local numbing wears off later in the day, it is completely normal to experience a localised sore, tender, or bruised sensation, similar to the feeling of an intense workout. This post-procedural discomfort is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief and simple ice packs, resolving significantly within the first few days.
How many MiraDry sessions will I need?
The vast majority of patients (typically over 80 to 85%) achieve their desired sweat and odour reduction goals after just a single MiraDry session. For patients presenting with exceptionally severe cases of axillary hyperhidrosis, a second touch-up session may be recommended three months later. Clinical studies demonstrate that a single session reliably delivers an average 82% permanent reduction in underarm sweat. During your initial clinical consultation, our dermatologists will evaluate the density of your condition to establish a realistic, personalised treatment pathway tailored to your lifestyle goals.
What is the difference between MiraDry and sweat injections?
MiraDry uses thermal microwave energy to permanently destroy underarm sweat and odour glands, providing a lifetime solution exclusively for the underarms. Sweat injections use a temporary prescription substance to block nerve signals to the glands, requiring maintenance treatments every 6 to 12 months across various body areas. While hyperhidrosis injections are a highly versatile, needle-based treatment that can be adapted to the hands, feet, and face with zero downtime, they must be repeated indefinitely. MiraDry requires a few days of localised downtime due to underarm swelling, but it offers a permanent, structural clearance that completely removes the need for ongoing treatment costs.
Are there any permanent side effects of MiraDry?
There are no common permanent side effects associated with MiraDry when performed by qualified medical professionals. Normal temporary side effects include localised underarm swelling, redness, soreness, temporary skin numbness, and small tissue bumps, all of which naturally resolve within a few weeks as the area heals. A very rare but documented risk is altered pigmentation or localised hair reduction in the treated axillary zone, which many patients actually view as a secondary benefit. Because the treatment zone is highly localised to the superficial skin layers of the armpit, it does not pose a risk to deeper neurovascular structures or your body's overall cooling systems.
