Laser treatment to help with sweating

AVON, Conn. (WTNH) -- There is a potential solution to what many say is an embarrassing problem: excess sweating.

"Under the skin is the laser, going back and forth," said Dr. Martin Savage, Radiance Medspa.

A laser treatment with high intensity heat is designed to help people with the condition, hyperhidrosis.

"It's killing the cells under the skin that produce the sweat, so it's killing the sweat glands," said Dr. Savage. "Sweating that is more than is necessary for a given person's body to stay cool and to keep their temperature normal." 

Dr. Savage is a surgeon at Radiance Medspa, the first to offer the non-invasive cosmetic procedure in the state.

"Anybody who sweats too much is a good candidate," Dr. Savage said.  

Kristina Heizman is a hairdresser.

"It's kinda embarrassing having sweaty armpits when you do hair and people notice it," Heizman said.

She has tried everything to battle overactive sweat glands.

"My dermatologist had given me prescription deodorants, you know that would work, except they'd burn the skin," she said. "It was uncomfortable."

The outpatient procedure starts with a local anesthetic and takes about an hour to undergo.
   
Dr. Savage says it's 100 percent effective.

"Once you get it to the point the patient is happy, they are going to stay happy," said Dr. Savage.  

Two treatments later, Heizman is a happy patient.

"I don't have sweat marks under my arms. I don't have to worry about anything," she said. 

"Do you still sweat," asked News 8's Jocelyn Maminta.

"I do still sweat," she said. "It's just not excessive like it was before." 

Heizman tells News 8 she didn't feel anything during the procedure, but she did have some swelling and bruising.

The cost for the new laser treatment is $2,800 hundred dollars, and it's generally not covered by insurance.

For more information, visit www.radianceavon.com .