miraDry

How it works

miraDry delivers microwave energy through a handpiece pressed against the underarm. The energy is aimed at the layer where eccrine sweat glands sit, while a cooling system protects the skin surface. Heat damages the glands in the treated zone, and because glands that are removed do not generally regrow, reduction in sweat can be long-lasting for many people, although results vary. Local anesthesia is used to keep the treatment comfortable.

Good to know

• The catalog lists it as microwave thermolysis.
• The maker is listed as miraDry (formerly part of Sientra).
• Swelling, tenderness and temporary numbness in the area can last days to weeks.
• It targets underarm sweating and odor and is not a treatment for other body areas.

Where miraDry sits among similar devices

For excessive underarm sweating, miraDry is the energy-based alternative to repeating injections. Botulinum toxin blocks the signal that triggers sweating and wears off over months, while microwave thermolysis acts on the glands themselves. That difference in mechanism is why the two are compared, and why miraDry is often discussed as a longer-term option.

It involves more recovery than injections, with swelling and soreness, and it requires local anesthesia. It is not suited to everyone, including those with certain implants in the area or skin conditions at the site. A doctor can help weigh duration of effect, recovery and personal preference.