MEDICAL
COSMETIC
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Phone (medical)
(403) 457-1900
Phone (cosmetic)
(403) 202-4038
Address
Business Hours
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
MEDICAL
COSMETIC
MIRADRY FOR EXCESSIVE SWEATING
MiraDry is a permanent procedure which uses suction to lift sweat glands close to the surface of the skin, delivering thermal energy to heat and destroy the sweat glands. The procedure ensures that excessive sweating is gone forever.
What are the benefits of MiraDry?
- Most of our patients, consistent with the medical literature (see references below), experience permanent reduction in sweating and odour. It works !!
- It has been touted to be a “needle free” and “toxin free” alternative to Botox for hyperhidrosis. We like the fact that it tends to be a one-time therapy unlike Botox, which needs to be repeated several times per year……
- It reduces axillary hair and as such, many (but not all) people do not require laser hair removal.
- MiraDry recovery is easy for most patients; the skin is not cut so there is no real downtime.
What are the drawbacks of MiraDry ? MiraDry complaints are uncommon but you should be mindful of the following:
- Local anesthetic is required, and this can be slightly uncomfortable.
- As of now, most medical insurance plans don’t cover the cost for MiraDry (which we find unusual, since MiraDry is far cheaper in the long run as compared with Botox injections). So How much does MiraDry treatment cost? It depends on the number of sessions required but on average it is one or two sessions. Contact us for a free consultation. You can see a dermatologist privately / without a referral for this. We are one of the busiest providers of this service in Canada; we’d love to help you with this disabling condition…..
- Side effects of MiraDry include swelling of the armpits which usually resolves after several days. There is a rare risk of nerve injury, but this is greatly minimized
What is miraDry? The best solution to stop sweating and eliminate underarm odour.
miraDry is a novel non-invasive nonsurgical, FDA-approved treatment which uses microwave laser energy to significantly reduce the number of underarm sweat glands, which can lead to elimination of excessive sweating and odour (known medically as “osmidrosis”). miraDry has been done in
our Calgary clinic for over seven years and we are one of the busiest providers in the country. We regularly see patients from all over Western Canada, including Edmonton, Banff, Canmore and British Columbia.
How does miraDry eliminate excess sweating?
The treatment works by selectively targeting and destroying underarm sweat glands. These are not sweat glands that are necessary nor are these sweat glands important to regulate your body’s normal temperature. Because the sweat glands are near the hair follicles, these are often treated as well. So miraDry laser is also a laser hair removal technique ! The procedure takes about an hour after local anesthesia.
Unlike surgical treatments (e.g. cutting the nerves which come to the armpit), there is no risk of reflex / secondary sweating elsewhere on the body.
MiraDry preparation involves local anesthetic injected into the armpit area. A lot of saline is placed as well (tumescent anesthesia) and this novel technique also lifts the sweat glands up and away from the delicate nerves of the armpit. You may feel as though there is a banana under your skin, but this resolves within a day or so.
We are often asked how long does it take for MiraDry to work; most people notice benefits starting within 48 hours.
Who’s a good candidate for miraDry?
If you have had episodes of annoying excessive underarm sweating (psychologically devastating for some people, in fact), this is right for you. You can feel confident in social situations again and wear your favourite pastel colours – black shirts are no longer a necessity. We are often asked “How long does MiraDry last ?”. It is potentially permanent, since the sweat glands are destroyed.
Calgary Hyperhidrosis / Banff Hyperhidrosis / Edmonton Hyperhidrosis
Apart from MiraDry, what other therapies exist for axillary hyperhidrosis?
By far and away, the next most common therapy is Botox for hyperhidrosis or similar neuromodulator. These are very effective, but most patients require many sessions (three to four per year).
Scientific Studies: Because evidence matters
Lenefsky M et al: Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it. Am J Manag Care 2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl).
Doolittle, James, et al. “Hyperhidrosis: an Update on Prevalence and Severity in the United States.” Archives of Dermatological Research, vol. 308, no. 10, 2016.
Hong, Chih-Ho H., et al. “Clinical Evaluation of a Microwave Device for Treating Axillary Hyperhidrosis.” Dermatologic Surgery, vol. 38, no. 5, May 2012.
Lupin, Mark, et al. “Long-Term Efficacy and Quality of Life Assessment for Treatment of Axillary Hyperhidrosis With a Microwave Device.” Dermatologic Surgery, vol. 40, no. 7, July 2014.
Brauer JA etal: A Prospective Study of Axillary Hair Reduction in Patients Treated With Microwave Technology.Dermatol Surg Dermatol Surg 2017 Apr;43(4):558-565.
Scuderi S et al: A survey of patient satisfaction with use of microwave device for axillary hyperhidrosis. Australas J Dermatol 2017 May;58
Schedule A Consultation
Thank you for your interest in our clinic.
Medical Dermatology appointments require a referral from your Family Doctor or General Practitioner, while Cosmetic procedures do not.
A fee of $100 will be charged should you choose not to obtain a referral for any Medical appointments. Please contact us at 403-457-1900 or email us at info@derm.ca if you are unclear as to whether your issue is Medical or Cosmetic.
Also, you are welcome to use the acne.ca platform for secure electronic dermatology consultations.
HERE’S WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING…
“The best decision I ever made. Thanks to Ildiko and her team I now have my confidence back. I can’t tell you how stressful it was going into a social situation with the fear of breaking out into a heavy sweat. I recommend miraDry treatment to anyone who wants to eliminate sweat and odor in the underarm area.”
-Gay N.
