Women 'Microwaving' Armpits To Reduce Underarm Hair, Sweat

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some women are taking part in an unusual cosmetic medical treatment by "microwaving" their armpits all in the name of beauty.

CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported its a new FDA-approved technique for permanent reduction of underarm hair and sweat.

Michelle Sanabria is currently undergoing this "microwaving" as the 26-year-old has struggled with hyperhidrosis for years. She has been dealing with constant underarm stains which is ruining her clothes and hurting her self-esteem.

"I sweat profusely," she said. "Could be in any mood – happy, sad, excited – I still sweat."

Using a temporary underarm tattoo as a roadmap, dermatologist Whitney Bowe applies the MiraSmooth device that uses the same technology that heats food up in a microwave.

"It uses microwave technology to deliver heat to the layer beneath the skin where the hair follicles and sweat glands live and it permanently kills those off," Bowe said. "It's an incredibly efficient procedure."

MireSmooth is actually a refinement of the original MiraDry device, which was meant to treat excessive underarm sweat. Both devices gently suck the skin away from important nerves in the underarm, then microwave energy is focused in the layer of the skin where the sweat glands and hair follicles live, while at the same time cooling the overlying skin to prevent burns or superficial damage.

Over the next few days and weeks, the sweat glands and hair follicles just die off.

Shawna Moscowitz had it done several months ago for sweaty armpits and found a pleasant side effect.

"Sweat pretty much gone. No reason for me to wear deodorant, except that it's habit. Don't need it for odor or sweat. Side effect, no hair," she said.

Sweat glands and hair follicles don't regenerate so the hair and sweat loss is permanent. The cost is between $1,200 and $2,000 and sometimes a second one-hour treatment is needed.

Only about 2 percent of sweat glands are in armpits.