They Say
No one enjoys sweating, but for some it is more than a little annoying. Those affected by excessive sweating, a condition known as hyperhydrosis, tend to feel severely restricted by it in their everyday life, sometimes avoiding work or social situations due to embarrassment and always having to consider what to wear. Understandably, this can have a huge impact on confidence levels and mental health. But even for those who perspire a normal amount, deodorants don’t always deliver the protection they promise, especially in hot weather or in stressful situations. A more effective solution is to kill the sweat glands in the underarm with electromagnetic energy. The go-to treatment is MiraDry, an FDA-approved and non-invasive laser treatment which permanently reduces sweating by up to 80 per cent.
The Process
Having researched different London providers of the MiraDry treatment, I opted for the Karidis Clinic, housed within the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in St John’s Wood. A thorough telephone consultation with one of its nurses, Stevie Goddard, put my mind at rest about exactly what to expect from the procedure, and how best to care for the underarm area pre and post-treatment. I was advised to buy a special antimicrobial cleanser, Hibiscrub, with which I washed myself twice daily for a few days before the appointment.
On arrival to the bright and spacious clinic, I filled in a set of questionnaires about my medical history and once again Stevie talked me through the procedure and what to expect in the aftermath. Essentially, electromagnetic energy is applied directly to the skin using a specially designed hand piece. The energy is carefully targeted to the area of the armpit where sweat glands are found and eliminates them. As they don’t grow back, the procedure results in a significant and permanent reduction in sweat. (It also destroys the hair follicles, resulting in reduced underarm hair). For most people, one session is enough.
Having taken my top off, I sat back in the treatment chair and did my best to relax as Stevie marked up the area of my underarms to be treated and numbed them with local anaesthesia. This was the only slightly uncomfortable part of the procedure as the first few injections stung a bit before the armpits went numb. But the procedure itself was quick and painless – just light pressure on the skin and the occasional sensation of heat. An hour after arriving to the clinic I was all done, and clutching a pair of soothing icepacks in my armpits I headed home to rest. My armpits were a bit sore but I only needed to take painkillers on the day of the procedure when the anaesthesia wore off. While it took a few weeks for the swelling and soreness to completely subside, I didn’t experience any of the other temporary side-effects I had been told could occur, such as numbness or a tingling feeling in the arms or hands. Aside from having to avoid hot baths and exercise for five days after the treatment, I wasn’t restricted at all in my daily routine during the healing process.
The Results
I knew I could expect a significant reduction in underarm sweat after just one treatment and as I didn’t sweat excessively before, I now barely sweat at all. In clinical studies of MiraDry, 90 per cent of patients were satisfied with the results after one or two sessions, and I certainly am. Three months on from the procedure, I have thrown away my deodorant as I no longer need it. To say I’m ‘pleased’… is an understatement.
The Details
MiraDry starts from £1,595 for the first treatment (second treatment, if needed, from £1,145)
Karidis Clinic, Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, 3rd Floor, 60 Grove End Road, St John’s Wood, NW8 9NH
020 7432 8727
enquiries@karidis.co.uk
