Botox vs miraDry for Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

A few months ago, I wrote an article about using Botox for excessive sweating, which, until now, was the only non-surgical treatment for those suffering from hyperhydrosis. However, the FDA has recently approved a new non-invasive option known as miraDry.

Keep Reading to find out everything you need to know about miraDry….

miraDry uses a new concept based on microwave technology to non-invasively treat excessive sweating (aka hyperhydrosis).  They call it “microwave technology” because it works by heating from the inside out, similar to how a microwave heats food. Using a handpiece, which looks like a laser handpiece, the miraDry system heats up the deep layers of the skin where sweat glands are located. While these deep layers are being heated, the technology protects and cools the top layers of skin to prevent damage and help keep the procedure comfortable. As the sweat glands are heated, they are permanently damaged, which prevents them from producing sweat and effectively treats hyperhydrosis.

So the question remains… is miraDry better than Botox?

The Pro’s of miraDry

1. Less invasive than Botox: miraDry only uses a handpiece that is placed directly on the skin, and does not involve any needles (well, almost none… see #2).
2. Less painful than Botox: This one is questionable…  the company recommends numbing the area before the treatment with an injection of local anesthesia (which to me seems to defeat the idea of non-invasive).
3. Permanent results: Sweat glands do not regenerate, so the damage that is caused by miraDry is theoretically permanent.

The Con’s of miraDry

1. Multiple treatments needed: studies have shown an improvement after one treatment, but it usually takes 2-3 treatments to achieve the final results with miraDry.
2. The results are not as well described: miraDry uses a new technology that is still being studied. Right now, we do not know if the results are better than Botox, or if the result are actually permanent.
3. More expensive: Two treatments of miraDry typically costs $3000 (compared to about $1000 or less for Botox, which can last up to a year)
4. Difficult to find a practitioner who offers miraDry: it just became available in the USA in the fall of 2011, so many practitioners do not have the system yet, and cannot offer it to their patients.

The Bottom Line about miraDry

Right now, I don’t think there is a clear winner. The technology behind miraDry has great potential, and if the results prove to be permanent, it may become the best treatment for hyperhydrosis in the future. Until then, Botox remains a great option that is less expensive, very effective, long lasting, virtually painless, and readily available.

If you have any questions about miraDry or Botox for hyperhidrosis, feel free to send us an email at MAS@ManhattanAestheticSurgery.com, visit our website at www.ManhattanAestheticSurgery.com, or send us a text message at 917-703-7069.

Shea Parker, PA-C, MSHS
Physician Assistant, Clinical Skin Care Expert
Manhattan Aesthetic Surgery
www.ManhattanAestheticSurgery.com
Shea@ManhattanAesthetiSurgery.com