miraDry

How it works

miraDry uses microwave thermolysis to heat the sweat glands in the underarm skin. A handpiece holds the tissue against the skin with suction while microwave energy is directed at the gland layer and the surface is cooled. Local anesthetic is injected beforehand, since the treatment can be felt. Swelling, soreness and temporary numbness commonly follow. The glands treated are not expected to regrow, though the amount of reduction in sweat varies by person.

Good to know

• The treatment is applied to both underarms, so a quote is normally for the pair and not for a single side.
• Local anesthetic injections are part of the visit and may be listed as a separate item or included.
• A disposable tip is used per patient, and clinics differ on whether it is a distinct line.
• Most plans are described as one or two visits spaced weeks apart, so the number of visits is part of the figure.

How miraDry affects a treatment quote

Counting is simple here: both underarms, a certain number of sessions. What varies is what surrounds them. Check that the quote states how many sessions it covers, because a single-visit price and a two-visit price are not comparable without that.

Next, ask about the anesthetic and the tip, which are the two items most likely to sit outside the headline figure. Ask whether swelling-control items such as compression garments or cooling packs are included, and whether a follow-up visit is part of the plan. Sweating is a medical symptom for some people, so the doctor may ask about it at the exam, and that conversation is part of finalizing the plan.