I hate underarm sweating. I hated it prior to kids because I have an intense LUST for fashion. Unfortunately, silky fabrics and tops had a minimal place in my wardrobe however, because I was never someone who didn't sweat.
In fact I did sweat probably more than average. Walking from my car to the grocery store, while driving, working, just basically living my life, chances are I was going to be sweating.
This was only amplified after I had kids.
Insert child birth and the most unwelcome of side effects. Night sweats. Intense postpartum sweating, and the most uncomfortable I had ever been in my own sweaty skin.
I'm talking 3 + sheet changes a night. The inability to feel like I could go ANYWHERE because an intense sweat shower might take over my body.
It didn't help that I live in Hawaii where we already run hot... or that my workout of choice is outdoor running. As a two-time marathoner, my sweating actually started to be problematic on my runs after having kids. I developed basically an allergic reaction to my sweating. If I were to run in a sleeveless top and the sweat rubbed against the inside of my arm, little red bumps would appear under my arms, and I was forced to run in either long or sleeved tops for the past 4 years.
Now thankfully my sweat didn't smell, but it did make me feel uncomfortable and NOT confident to wear most colored clothing (for fear someone might notice a sweat stain).
I tried the highest strength antiperspirants.... but there was no change.
I was desperate for a solution, but to be honest I didn't know if there was even one out there.
That's when I first heard about miraDRY.
WHAT IS miraDRY?
I learned about miraDry in an ad like email that I received from my Doctor Chung, in Hawaii-- who had helped with the bulging veins in my leg postpartum (due to increased blood volume + pregnancy hormones). Shoutout to Hawaii Vein Institute!
The email described miradry as a the solution to my problems. An FDA Cleared, non-surgical treatment for reducing sweat and odor with a 90% satisfaction rate and little to no downtime.
The email went on to state: that the miraDry system used thermal energy to target and eliminate sweat glands under your arms. Once eliminated they WOULD NOT GROW BACK. SO...Goodbye, sweat stains!
Intrigued I set up a consultation.
How the technology works:
At my consultation it was determined I would be a great candidate for miraDry.
The technology of what would occur on my day of treatment was next described to me.
Step 1: A pre-made stencil is placed over your underarm to guide the clinician to best see the grid like pattern of where your sweat glands are located.
Step 2: A handheld device will deliver electromagnetic (microwaves) that travel through the skin to the layer where sweat and oder glands are located.
Step 3: The microwave heats the glands and causes them to break down and die (called thermolysis).
Step 4: While the sweat glands are being treated, the miraDry device is simultaneously cooling the skin's surface, to ensure you are comfortable and to prevent damage to surround tissue.
Once eliminated, sweat glands do not grow back, providing a permanent reduction in underarm perspiration and odor.
I was told the procedure itself would be pretty painless as anesthesia would be administered via injection to the underarm area to numb me from feeling the pain. However post treatment the area would become swollen for 1-3 days.
Price:
Living in Hawaii, I have come to expect to pay more for most treatments offered elsewhere. However, given my comparisons to other states it seemed I paid on par, for the session of miraDry the cost was $1500.
Day of the procedure:
On the morning of the procedure I was excited.. I was told to wear clothing that would expose the underarm area easily and something comfortable. This is my before photo:
However, upon arrive to the doctors office I was told to change into a smock that was easily adjusted to allow the underarm area to be best exposed.
I could see on the adjacent table the tools and stencils that would be used to draw out my sweat glands on the underarm area.
I changed, and the nurse drew on my underarms. I was told because my frame was small that they would be careful to avoid the breast bone & tissue, but should still be able to achieve great results.
If you are of small frame, you will want to have a considerate doctor who pays attention to this (I did happen to read some reddit horror stories prior, so make sure you trust your doctor to be thoughtful).
A quick ouch from the anesthesia injection and I begin numbing. After I was sufficiently numbed, my doctor begin the actual treatment. I can confidently say that it was painless. What little I could feel, felt like a suction cup squeezing and releasing. In under an hour from start to finish I was done.
I was given cute little miraDRY ice packs to place under my arms, and told to alternate on and off for the remainder of the day- into the next day.
Ok. I got this, I confidently thought as I drove myself home....
What I would later find out is, I didn't completely "got this".
I didn't have swelling for the first couple of hours post-treatment. My underarm was a little red, and the soreness was manageable.
However, as the afternoon progressed.. the swelling began to progress as well. About 4-5 hours post treatment, I became extremely uncomfortable.
The little miraDry ice packs were no longer big enough to cover the area swelling under my arm, so I resorted to frozen fruit packs I had).
I had mentioned to my Doctor that I had a hair appt the next day, and he assured me I would be just fine...
However, my underarms were continuing to swell to uncomfortable levels. I read online someone else's hot take, that it felt like you had a golf ball sitting under your arm.. and that is completely accurate- except mine felt like bowling balls. All I wanted to do was freeze the area to minimize how bad the swelling felt.
Swollen ridges started to form under my arm, and it was truly one of the most uncomfortable feelings I have ever had.
The next morning, I was just as swollen (if not more) than before.
It felt near impossible to put my arm fully down to be honest. I sat through one of the most uncomfortable hair appointments of my life. It still felt like there were giant balls under my arms, and I could not put my arms fully down at my side they were that swollen.
That said, if you throw on a large boxy tee.. no one else will notice.
This is me 1 day after the procedure, heading to my appt in my boxiest of tees.
As someone with an incredibly high pain tolerance, I was floored how much the swelling bothered me.
I will not sugar coat it, it was uncomfortable.
That said, I immediately stopped sweating.
Results:
It has now been 3 months since I had the miraDry treatment and WOW my life has changed. The swelling under my arms went back to normal fully about 3-4 weeks after the treatment.
I go to my kids soccer practices 3 times a week... I don't sweat.
I go on a run.. I still sweat other places but not under my arms.
I feel confident wearing colorful clothing, and buying white; because I won't stain them.
I made it through TSA with two kids during HOLIDAY TRAVEL insanity... and I quite literally kept my cool. I don't wake up sweaty. I'm so so happy that I did this.
The treatment has been a complete game changer for me.
Side Effects:
With any treatment there are unexpected side effects.
One of those (that no doctor mentioned to me btw), but that I'm well aware of given my interest and work in supplements; is hair loss from injections or procedures that involve numbing anesthesia.
This is typically due to the body's stress response, sometimes medications, or often times nerve blocks when steroids are used. This can cause an unexpected hair shedding to occur 2-3 months after treatment.
I cannot stress this enough. Keep up your nutrition, and take your hair vitamins.
I love a good treatment, but I do hate hair shedding. Being consistent with my 6,000 mcg biotin and collagen Baby Blues Hair Vitamins kept my hair healthy and growing- post treatment and beyond. Woman who have had to deal with hair loss after surgery, or illness know all too well the amount of shedding that can occur. Hair vitamins are my non-negotiable.
One of the welcome side-effects for women who choose the miraDry treatment is hair loss/ damaging the hair follicle in the area that was treated.
While I have seen men online complain about this, as a woman who has spent hundred of dollars on laser hair removal, this was quite a welcome reinforcement for the area.
I have read about other cases where patients experienced temporary numbness, swelling, and altered skin sensation (tingling) in the treated area, with rare risks including nerve damage. To that, I would say definitely research and trust your doctor. Mine was so cautious and careful not to go close to my breast bone and tissue, and care and cautiousness is certainly to be valued when seeking a treatment that provides permanent results.
Conclusion:
Postpartum, peri-menopause, menopause...seasons in life that will likely cause sweating to be more than a little uncomfortable for us women.
MiraDry has made me incredibly hopeful and happy to no longer sweat under my arms. While the "after" of the procedure left me swollen and uncomfortable (which I do think was downplayed by the staff). I'm so thrilled that I did it.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, if you've tried miraDry, or how sweating has impacted you.
