miraDry Treatment for Underarm Odor and Hyperhidrosis in Tokyo

Table of Contents

Introduction

Safe and Reliable Treatment Performed Personally by Dr.shimizu,chairman.

All treatments are performed directly by Dr. Shimizu, ensuring a safe, precise, and reassuring experience for every patient.

Web Counseling

Our YouTube web counseling sessions are also well-received.

About Fees (Tax Included)

Fees	Counseling	Free
	Sweat Test	¥5,500 (tax included) (¥5,000 before tax)
	1 Pass Treatment (Underarms)	¥176,000 (tax included) (¥160,000 before tax)
	1 Pass Underarm Hybrid Treatment	¥198,000 (tax included) (¥180,000 before tax)
	2 Pass Treatment (Underarms)	¥352,000 (tax included) (¥320,000 before tax)
	Retreatment	¥165,000 (tax included) (¥150,000 before tax)

Treatment Results (2020 – December 2024)

miraDry Cases Since 2020	Axillary region 2,068 cases

Our Clinic`s MiraDry

What is MiraDry?

MiraDry is a medical device that treats underarm sweating using microwave energy, which is also used in microwave ovens
It has been several years since its introduction in Japan, and its treatment efficacy has gained positive evaluation.
According to research conducted by Dr. Shimizu, the director of our clinic, this treatment has achieved results comparable to surgery and represents a non-surgical alternative for underarm odor.
As this is a non-surgical treatment, there are no incisions or scars, no need for postoperative compression as with surgery, and patients can resume their daily activities soon after the procedure.
Compared to surgery, miraDry involves far fewer complications and leaves no scars. It is a safe treatment that can be confidently offered even to children who are still developing.

Our Clinic’s Exclusive miraDry Treatment

miraDry Based on Our Original Treatment Theory

Dr. Shimizu, Director of Precious Clinic, has conducted extensive research on miraDry over many years and is the only physician in Japan to have published an academic paper on this treatment (*1, *2).
All treatments are personally performed by Dr. Shimizu, who customizes the energy delivery for each patient to create an individually tailored treatment plan.
Thanks to this advanced technique, the pain from local anesthetic injections is minimal to almost nonexistent. Patients treated at Precious Clinic have praised the procedure, reporting that it was virtually painless, including the anesthesia.

Notes:
(*1) About the published paper:
Step-by-Step Treatment of Axillary Odor and Hyperhidrosis / miraDry
Yuki Shimizu. Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 59: S134, 2016
(*2) “The only physician”:
Based on a search of the Japan Medical Abstracts Society database (Ichushi), as of August 31, 2018.

Ask Dr. Shimizu Directly About miraDry Treatment
Click here to open the consultation form ⇒

Safe and Secure Treatment for Children with Body Odor and Hyperhidrosis

Children smell!

I often find myself thinking this while treating them.

Since the apocrine glands, which are responsible for body odor (axillary odor), develop and become more active as people grow older, I used to think that adults would smell stronger. However, after I began treating children, I came to feel that children actually smell worse than adults.

Why do children smell more than adults?

Adults have more developed apocrine glands, so you would naturally expect adults to smell stronger.
However, the truth is that children often smell worse.In fact, body odor is not caused by having a larger amount of apocrine glands.
Surprisingly, apocrine sweat itself—the sweat associated with axillary odor—does not smell.
Apocrine sweat doesn’t smell?
That sounds hard to believe, doesn’t it?
But when you think about it this way, it starts to make sense.
Can the body make smelly sweat?
Sweat is a body fluid produced by our own bodies.
So how could it turn into something that smells bad, like body odor?
We are not stink bugs, so our bodies are not meant to produce smelly fluids.
So why does body odor happen?

Bad smells are produced by bacteria.

Axillary odor is actually produced by bacteria.There are bacteria that normally live on our skin.These bacteria are usually inactive and stay hidden in the pores.When we sweat, the skin becomes moist, and the bacteria use apocrine sweat as food.
They multiply, and this is when the odor appears.It is the same reason why damp clothes start to smell. Children sweat more and have a higher metabolism, so they tend to develop odor more easily.

Even people with axillary odor may not smell, depending on the type of bacteria?!

There is a research paper from the United States showing that axillary odor can differ depending on the type of bacteria.According to the researchers, some people have apocrine glands but do not smell.
When they studied the bacteria on these people’s skin, they found that the bacteria did not produce odor.Just like the bacteria in our gut, which include “good” and “bad” bacteria, there are many different types of bacteria in the body.The bacteria related to axillary odor also come in different types.If you have bacteria that do not produce odor, you will not smell much.That would be very welcome bacteria to have!

Painless Local Anesthesia

This treatment is very effective, but many people feel afraid to receive it.
Even adults are often afraid, so it is even more frightening for children.
If you think the treatment should be done under general anesthesia, that is not correct. As mentioned earlier, axillary odor is not a physical disease.General anesthesia may seem easy because you are asleep, but it places a heavy burden on the body. There is also a risk of unexpected accidents with general anesthesia. If the treatment is not painful and not frightening, it can be safely performed with local anesthesia.
Dr. Shimizu, the director of Precious Clinic, has many years of surgical experience and has performed many surgeries on children using local anesthesia.
With his technique, local anesthesia can be given with little to no pain.
If a child can calmly receive vaccinations, such as a flu shot, the procedure can be performed without any problems.

Painless miraDry Treatment – Why Is It Not Painful?

We explain why this treatment can be done without pain.

～miraDry Treatment Video for Children～

We performed a non-surgical axillary odor treatment on an elementary school child.
The injections were not painful at all, and the child remained calm during the treatment.
If you are a parent who is concerned, please watch the video until the end.

miraDry Treatment for Children (Monitor Program)

Children are treated under a monitor program.
Even in children, once second puberty begins and body odor appears, the apocrine glands are already well developed.
This has nothing to do with the amount or growth of hair.
Based on our clinical experience, the miraDry treatment area for children is the same as for adults.
We treat a wider area than just the hair-bearing area.
For this reason, we believe that one treatment session is usually enough, even for children.
If the treatment is done properly, one session is often sufficient.
However, we still do not have very long-term follow-up data for children.
In medicine, treatments are evaluated by their results over time.
Children may respond differently from adults because they are still growing.
That is why we need to carefully follow their progress.
For this reason, we ask children to receive treatment under the monitor program, so we can follow their condition over time.
I am originally a plastic surgeon and have treated congenital conditions with surgery.
When treating children, it is the doctor’s responsibility to follow them until they become adults.
That is why I believe treatment during the growth period should be followed until adulthood.
For this reason, we strongly recommend the monitor program for children.
For elementary school children, we recommend a two-pass treatment.
Because this is a monitor program, the cost is lower than regular treatment.

•Regular two-pass treatment: 320,000 yen
•Elementary school monitor price: 250,000 yen (tax not included)

If you are interested in the elementary school monitor program, please start with a consultation.
The consultation can be done with only the parent or guardian, and the child does not need to be present.

3 Types of miraDry Treatment

1. Precious Clinic’s Standard Treatment: Effective with Just One Pass

At Precious Clinic, we have proven that two-pass treatment (double overlapping shots) can be more effective.
For this reason, we have long offered a premium treatment with two full passes.
It is now clear that two-pass treatment is more effective, as many other clinics have started using the same method.
When a wide area is treated with double shots, better results are naturally expected.
However, this does not mean that one-pass treatment is not effective.
Based on our treatment results, one pass still provides sufficient results, and many patients are satisfied with this treatment alone.
Two-pass treatment also has some disadvantages.
The treatment time is longer, and some patients find this stressful.
In addition, even with two-pass treatment, a small number of patients still require retreatment.
With one-pass treatment, most patients can clearly feel the effect.
If you value cost performance, we recommend one-pass treatment.
The first treatment is available for 180,000 yen (¥198,000 including tax).
Unfortunately, if you are not satisfied after one treatment and require a retreatment, it can be performed for 150,000 yen (¥165,000 including tax).
To further improve the accuracy of one-pass treatment, we have made many adjustments and improvements.
Based on recent medical findings, we started our Hybrid miraDry Treatment in October 2025.

2. Hybrid miraDry Treatment

At our clinic, we recommend a sweat test before retreatment.
Based on the results, we have confirmed that even with one-pass treatment, the area was treated accurately, without missed spots.
So why does odor sometimes return after about one year?
The most reasonable explanation is that some sweat gland tissue was not completely destroyed and later regenerated.
In recent years, research in regenerative medicine has advanced rapidly, and the mechanisms of tissue regeneration are becoming clearer.
Apocrine sweat glands were once considered unimportant and were rarely studied, but their regeneration process has now been identified.
Sweat glands have the ability to regenerate, and the location of the stem cells involved in this process has also been identified.
Apocrine glands belong to the hair–sebaceous–apocrine unit, meaning hair, sebaceous glands, and apocrine glands function as one unit.
The stem cells responsible for regeneration are located in the same bulge area as hair stem cells.
This theory suggests that laser hair removal, which destroys hair stem cells, may also prevent the regeneration of apocrine glands.
However, laser treatment alone would require many sessions to completely eliminate apocrine glands, which is not practical.
For this reason, we developed a hybrid treatment combining miraDry and laser therapy.
With this hybrid approach, we can also destroy the stem cells of the apocrine glands, greatly improving treatment results.
In addition, continued laser treatment after miraDry may prevent the regeneration of sweat glands that try to recover later, making it very effective in preventing recurrence.
This treatment method is the Hybrid miraDry Treatment, proposed by our clinic ahead of the rest of the world
(as of October 29, 2025, based on online research).

Click here for more details.

3. Perfect miraDry Treatment — Precious Clinic’s Two-Pass Method

Want to stop underarm sweating 100%?
Want to completely eliminate odor?
This treatment is for those patients.
At Precious Clinic, we offer our original two-pass (overlapping) miraDry treatment.
With standard miraDry treatment, small gaps can remain between treated areas.
This has long been a limitation of conventional miraDry, and no matter how much effort is made, these gaps cannot be fully avoided.
To solve this, Precious Clinic refined the two-pass treatment method.
For the second pass, we do not follow the standard template.
Instead of treating in the same direction, we change the direction and apply the energy in a cross pattern.
This method allows us to cover the area with almost 100% accuracy, without gaps.
We are confident that the results can be even better than surgery.

How miraDry Treatment Works

miraDry uses microwave energy to target the apocrine glands and eccrine glands, which cause body odor and underarm sweating, and destroys both types of sweat glands.

There are two types of sweat glands: apocrine glands and eccrine glands. Because they are sweat cells, they contain a lot of water.As you may know from using a microwave oven, microwaves are easily absorbed by water, so things with a high water content heat up more easily. For example, try heating water and meat in a microwave for the same amount of time. The water heats up quickly, but the meat does not heat as easily. By using this principle, it is possible to destroy only the sweat cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.

Apocrine Glands

Apocrine glands produce sweat that can cause odor. Sweat from these glands contains substances such as fats and urea.

Eccrine Glands

Eccrine glands produce sweat during exercise and physical activity. Fresh sweat is watery, colorless, and odorless. In cases of excessive underarm sweating, the number of eccrine glands is higher and their activity is increased.

Image of the Two Types of Sweat Glands (Before Treatment)

Image of the Two Types of Sweat Glands (During Treatment)

Comparison with Other Treatments

miraDry has several advantages compared with other treatments, such as no scars, no need for follow-up visits, immediate results after treatment, and a quick return to daily life on the same day.

	miraDry	Surgical Treatment	Botulinum (Botox) Treatment
Duration	Long-lasting (almost permanent)	Long-lasting (almost permanent)	Temporary (a few months)
Scars	None (Temporary swelling may occur)	Remain	None
Daily activity restrictions	None	Yes (Underarm fixation is required)	None
Follow-up visits	Not required	Required (Stitch removal, etc.)	Not required
When results appear	Same day	Same day	3–7 days after treatment
Downtime*1	None	Long	Short

*1：Downtime refers to the period until you can return to your normal daily activities. With miraDry treatment, swelling or puffiness around the treated area may appear from immediately after the procedure to the next day, but it improves in a short time. Even during this period, there is usually no problem with work or daily life.

Features of Our Clinic

Treatment by a Doctor Who Has Published Research on miraDry

Retreatment for Axillary Odor and Excessive Sweating

当院での治療に効果が感じられない場合、ヨードテストを行い汗腺の消滅率を確認します。1回の治療で下記【写真2】の様に82％汗腺を消滅させる事を基準にしています。再施術を希望される際は150,000円にて2回目の治療を行います。

再治療に関しては,1回目の治療から少なくとも3か月以上経過していなければなりません。出来れば術後1年、間隔をあけて治療されることをお勧めします。

What Is the Iodine Test?

We apply an iodine solution to an area about 1 cm wider than the hair-bearing underarm area.Then, a thin layer of white powder (cornstarch) is gently applied with a brush over the same area. When sweat is present, the iodine and powder react. Areas where sweat glands are still active will turn black, showing where the sweat glands remain.

Case Monitor
Male, 34 years old
6 months after treatment

【Photo 1: Before Treatment】

【Photo 2: After Treatment】

Our Original Anesthesia Method to Reduce Pain

To reduce pain during both anesthetic injection and the procedure, we use a special formulation to adjust the PH of the anesthetic closer to neutral, a technique used by experienced specialists.
The most important factors are how the anesthetic is injected, including the angle, area, and depth of injection. Because these directly affect treatment results, we collected clinical data at the Department of Plastic Surgery at Showa University.Based on this data, we provide a safe treatment with maximum effectiveness, allowing patients to receive local anesthesia with little to no pain.

Reliable Aftercare and Follow-Up After Treatment

miraDry Treatment Process

We will explain the miraDry treatment process at our clinic.
For a one-pass treatment, the procedure takes about 90 minutes.
Please refer to our YouTube video to see the actual treatment process.
The video shows treatment for a 12-year-old child, but it should still be helpful as a reference. We encourage you to watch it.

1. Consultation

2. Determine the Treatment Area

3. Anesthesia

4. Marking the Treatment Area

5. Microwave Energy Delivery with miraDry

6. Icing (Cooling)

◆Completion

The same procedure is performed on both sides, and the treatment is complete.

You can go home immediately after the procedure.

After treatment, we provide a set of special cooling packs.
Please keep the treated area cool as much as possible after the procedure.

Post-Treatment Care

Please apply icing by yourself immediately after treatment.

After returning home, keep your underarms as cool as possible.Regular cooling helps reduce pain and swelling more quickly.We provide special cooling packs when you leave the clinic.

Daily Life Precautions

・Please avoid strenuous exercise for about one week. (Light exercise that does not move the underarms, such as running, is allowed from the next day.)
・Please avoid alcohol and bathing on the day of treatment. (Showering is allowed on the same day.)

Frequently Asked Questions About miraDry

Q. Is it safe to reduce the sweating function of the underarm sweat glands?

Humans are said to have about four million sweat glands throughout the body, and the sweat glands in the underarms make up only about 2% of them.Sweat glands play an important role in regulating body temperature. However, even if the sweat glands in the underarms stop functioning, this does not affect overall body function or temperature control.In addition, people with axillary odor produce a lot of sweat from apocrine glands, which do not play a role in temperature regulation.Therefore, even if this sweat function is reduced, it causes no problems at all.

Q. How long do the effects last? Is there a risk of recurrence?

Destroyed sweat glands almost never regenerate, so the effect is long-lasting.
Although results vary by individual, one treatment usually reduces sweating and odor by about 70–80%.
Additional treatment (double-pass or a second session) can further improve the results.

Q. Is there pain or side effects during or after the treatment?

During the procedure, pain is minimal due to local anesthesia.
After treatment, swelling, pain, bruising, tingling, tightness, firmness, or temporary numbness may occur.
Most symptoms improve within a few days to a few weeks.
Cooling and pain medication are recommended if needed.

Q. Is only one treatment needed? Can I have the treatment more than once?

In most cases, one treatment is sufficient, and many patients are satisfied with a single session.
If you would like additional treatment, it can be done after waiting at least three months.

Q. Will this affect my daily life?

miraDry does not require hospitalization or regular clinic visits.
You can shower on the same day as the treatment.
Daily life is generally not affected, but please avoid driving on the day of treatment, and avoid heavy drinking and intense exercise for a few days.
If you have any concerns, please consult us.

Q. Is miraDry safe?

miraDry is the only device approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health for the treatment of underarm sweating.
Its safety and effectiveness have been well established.
More than 55,000 treatments worldwide and 15,000 treatments in Japan have already been performed.
At our clinic alone, we have performed over 500 treatments, with no serious side effects or complications.
miraDry uses microwave energy (similar to that used in microwave ovens and Wi-Fi), and it does not harm the body.

Q. Can I receive treatment if I have skin irritation from antiperspirants?

If the skin is red, inflamed, or thin due to steroid creams, we recommend waiting until it fully heals.
If there is only pigmentation, treatment may still be possible.
Please consult us in advance so we can assess the risks.

Q. Will sweating increase in other areas after miraDry?

Compensatory sweating after miraDry is extremely rare.
Unlike nerve-cutting surgery, miraDry only destroys sweat glands locally, so increased sweating in other areas is unlikely.

Q. My earwax is wet, but I don’t notice any odor. Do I still have axillary odor?

Yes. Wet earwax indicates the presence of apocrine glands, meaning you have an axillary odor tendency.
If there is little or no odor, this may be a condition called “silent axillary odor.”
In this case, odor does not appear due to the type or balance of skin bacteria, but there is still a potential risk of odor in the future.

Q. Is miraDry effective for silent axillary odor?

Yes, it is effective.
At our clinic, we believe that one-pass treatment is usually sufficient for silent axillary odor.
Because odor is mild, complete removal of all apocrine glands is not necessary, and standard treatment provides good preventive results.

Q. I don’t have odor now, but I’m worried about the future. Can I get preventive treatment?

Yes, preventive miraDry treatment is possible.
Silent axillary odor may develop into noticeable odor due to changes in skin bacteria, age, or hormones.
We treat many patients who do not currently have odor but are worried about the future.
Please feel free to consult us.

Q. What is “groin odor (suso-wakiga)”? Private area

Groin odor is caused by sweat from apocrine glands in the groin area, which reacts with skin bacteria and produces a characteristic smell.
This odor is different from normal sweat and is often described as sour or fish-like.
It tends to become stronger on hot days, during stress, or when hormone levels change.

Q. How can I tell if I have groin odor (so-called “suso-wakiga”)?

It can be difficult to determine on your own whether you have groin odor. However, you may be at risk if any of the following apply:

• Your underwear develops a noticeable odor
• You notice odor when you sweat
• There is a family history of body odor (axillary odor)

In some cases, you may not notice the odor yourself, while others may.
If you have any concerns, we recommend consulting with a specialist for a professional evaluation.

Q. What is “Chichiga” (areolar body odor)?

“Chichiga” refers to body odor caused by sweat secreted from apocrine glands located around the areola (the area surrounding the nipple). This condition produces an odor similar to axillary odor.
It can affect both women and men. Many patients become aware of the condition during close-contact situations, such as intimate moments with a partner.
In addition to odor, some individuals also report an unusual or unpleasant taste, which is considered a characteristic feature of this condition.

Q. Do men also suffer from chichiga (areolar bromhidrosis)?

Yes. At our clinic, we receive many consultations from men regarding chichiga.
Men with chest hair, in particular, tend to have more active apocrine sweat glands, which can make chest odor more noticeable.
Treatment methods and management are the same for men and women, and we also offer counseling for male patients. Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns.

Director’s miraDry Column

Our clinic director is currently writing a series of medical columns covering miraDry treatments, as well as concerns such as axillary odor (body odor), groin odor (suso-wakiga), and areolar odor (chichiga).
Each article is based on medical evidence and clinical experience.
We invite you to read them if you have concerns about odor or excessive sweating.

miraDry Risks and Side Effects

Common Side Effects (Occur in Most Patients)
• Swelling and pain in the underarms
• Unevenness, lumpiness, or a feeling of discomfort in the treated area
• Bruising caused by local anesthesia injections
• Reduction of underarm hair

Rare Side Effects
• Swelling of the arm or torso
• Hyperpigmentation of the underarm skin
• Hardening of the treated area
• Temporary weakness of the arm or reduced grip strength