Don't Sweat it!

Medicine is a tradition for the Rettenmaier family. So as a child, Dr. Philip Rettenmaier (whose last name means “life saver or saver of life” in German) knew he would follow his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps into medicine. After completing his residency and a fellowship in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine at the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center, he moved to Fort Wayne in 1991 and provided advanced wound care and hyperbaric medicine services.

Dr. Rettenmaier founded Indiana Wound Care P.C. in 2003 where, by studying various wound treatments,  learned about a new technology for treating hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweat. With the creation of the procedure known as miraDry^©, patients suffering from embarrassing underarm sweat can now receive lasting relief. Dr. Rettenmaier spoke with Business People about the miraDry^© procedure.

Business People (BP): How does the miraDry^© procedure work?

Rettenmaier: miraDry^© is FDA approved and uses electromagnetic energy (better known as microwaves) to destroy sweat glands in the underarm area. These sweat glands do not regenerate and therefore the patient will see a dramatic reduction in the amount of sweat produced in the underarm area. 

BP: What can a patient expect with this procedure? 

Rettenmaier: It is a non-invasive procedure and is done in my office. After a free consultation, it only takes about 75 minutes to complete. There will be localized swelling for a period of time, but there should be no significant downtime related to the procedure.

BP: How effective is it? 

Rettenmaier: Studies show an 82 percent reduction (on average) in underarm sweating after two treatments performed three months apart.

BP: Who can elect to have this procedure?

Rettenmaier: The primary patient is someone who has excessive or embarrassing underarm sweating issues or hyperhidrosis (for the record, that is one in five people). It is also effective for those who are bothered by underarm sweating, who frequently reapply antiperspirants, bathe several times a day or are constantly ruining clothing because of underarm sweating.

BP: If sweating is good for the body, how can this procedure be healthy?

Rettenmaier: Sweating is good for the body. Excessive sweating, however, is not necessary. Only 2 percent of your sweat glands are located in the underarm, yet the underarm produces the most offensive smelling sweat. miraDry^© will eliminate the most embarrassing sweat, while still allowing the body to release it in other areas. 

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