Excessive underarm sweating,
also known as Hyperhidrosis, can now be treated
with 86% effectiveness, without surgery.
If you suffer from embarrassing sweat that ruins your clothes and affects your performance and how you are perceived at work, you are not alone.
It is estimated that 2 to 3 million Americans suffer from this condition. If you have it, your underarms sweat "buckets" even when it’s not hot. It is an inherited condition.
Since no permanent effective treatment existed until now, many people chose to live with it .
The main symptoms are excessive underarm perspiration. It can effect the palms and soles of the feet. Many people have had to alter their lifestyles. Clothing styles have to be changed due to excessive sweating.
Embarrassing moments occur, not to mention permanent stains to blouses,shirts and other tops.
Current available treatments include the following (but first the good news):
Antiperspirants. The front line of therapy for most people. The anti-perspirant usually consists of 10-20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate. This can irritate skin and be expensive. It can also damage clothing.
Some suffers have tried medications - anti-cholinergics such as robinul. They are not very popular due to side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness or difficult urination.
Iontophoresis is an FDA-approved procedure that utilizes electric current to temporarily shut down sweat glands. This is effective for hands and feet. It takes 10-20 minutes per session and several sessions are needed.
Botox has been FDA-approved for treating underarm sweating. Aproximately 70 to 100 units are divided equally between the patient’s armpits and injected. The cost is $10-$12.00 per unit. So the expense is considerable. The Botox may last 3-6, months but is only temporary.
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathetictomy (ETS) transects the nerve that stimulates your sweat glands. This is usually not too effective for excessive armpit sweating. It’s good if someone has excessive palm, sole or facial sweating.
Sometimes one can use special suction cannula to remove the sweat glands or use a special surgical shaver which will “shave” away the glands. These are surgical procedures; often require anesthesia and a more prolonged recovery.
Excessive sweating can be a very debilitating condition. It causes extreme embarrassment. Many people alter their types of clothing, including the fabrics and colors they wear. They limit their arms or shoulder movement so as to not reveal their wet armpits. It can affect careers where people need to manipulate equipment with their hands. Dehydration is also a risk.
THE NEW, FDA-APPROVED, REVOLUTIONARY MIRA-DRY
miraDry was approved by the FDA last year to correct excessive axillary or armpit sweating permanently. It is NOT used to treat excessive hand or foot sweating.
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The procedure is done under a local anaesthesia as an out-patient in Dr. Brueck's facility or in the All-Inclusive Medi-Spa. The doctor determines the area of skin with excessive sweating. The area is then infiltrated with local in much the same way novacaine is adminstered in the dentist's office. Then, the miraDry procedure is performed. The treatment of both armpits takes about 40-45 minutes. The miraDry machine delivers electro-magnetic energy to the armpit area, eliminating the sweat glands. Once eliminated, these glands DO NOT regenerate.
There are no cuts. Once the anesthesia is injected, there is wait of 5 to 10 minutes for it to take effect. Any discomfort is totally eliminated.
After treatment, we usually put ice packs under the patient’s arms and they are discharged to go home. The most important thing for the first couple of days is ice to minimize swelling. A simple Motrin or Advil usually is all that is needed for controlling minimal pain. The next day, you can shower and go to work.
The results? Most patients experience immediate reduction in their underarm sweating. Patients In one clinical trial experienced an 86% reduction.
Two treatments, separated by about three months, are required to maximize your results. On rare occasions, someone may need a third treatment.
The decrease in sweating is permanent. Once the sweat glands are destroyed by the electromagnetic waves they do NOT regenerate.
What are the consequences of de-activating underarm sweat glands? Sweat glands in this area represent only 2% of the total number in your body, so there are NO bad side effects.
Are you a candidate for miraDry treatment? Patients should be 18 years or older. If you meet the age requirements and you have excessive sweating, this is made to order.
You are invited to contact Dr. Brueck for a personal, confidential consultation. There is no cost or obligation. You will come away wiser and more confident about your decision, whether or not you decide to undergo miraDry treatment.
Robert Brueck, MD, FACS is Board Certified and fellowship-trained in plastic surgery with dedication to both beautiful results and the complete and healthy post-operative recovery.
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