Latisse

The gold standard for eyelash enhancement is undoubtedly Latisse. I introduced Latisse to audiences of the Rachael Ray Show once it hit the market back in 2009.  It’s been a huge seller ever since.

Latisse originated from an anti-glaucoma drug called Lumigan, which was produced by Allergan, the makers of Botox and Juvederm. They found that senior citizens taking Lumigan for glaucoma would come back to their ophthalmologists with these gorgeous, full, luscious eyelashes.  Knowing a good thing when they saw it, the company created a form for cosmetic use called Latisse and had it approved by the FDA.

It takes about 8 to 12 weeks for Latisse to have a noticeable effect, but it is scientifically proven to lengthen, darken, and thicken your eyelashes.  Believe me, it works.  We’ve sold many hundreds of boxes of Latisse in my office the last several years, and I’ve never had a single person return it.

In rare cases, it can cause some mild skin irritation, but is otherwise very well-tolerated.  Reports that Latisse can change the color of your eyes are overblown.  This has occurred with Lumigan, but only when it was applied as an eye drop.  It’s extremely unlikely for Latisse, when applied as directed on the upper eyelids, to cause this to happen, so if you love your light blue eyes, I wouldn’t be too concerned.

The main drawback to Latisse is that you must purchase it in a doctor’s office.  And it’s not cheap. A 10-week supply runs approximately $150 to $175.  Keep in mind that once you stop applying Latisse, the effects begin to wear off, so you need to use it continually if you want to maintain the good results.  As a general rule, it takes as long to wear off as it takes to work—about 8 to 12 weeks.

I get a lot of patients asking me how they can make Latisse more affordable and lengthen the amount of time each bottle of solution lasts them.  Well, it’s actually pretty easy.  The 5 cc box is meant to last approximately 10 weeks, and comes with a total of 140 applicators, to use one applicator for each eyelid every day.  In this way, after 70 days, you run out of applicators and must buy another box.

One simple solution to increase the amount of time your Latisse lasts you is to put a drop on one applicator, and use it on your right eye then your left.  Throw the applicator away.  The next day put a drop on a new applicator, then apply to your left eyelid and then your right.  Continue on this alternate application path and your 10 week kit will last you double that!

If you have thin eyebrows, then I may have a solution for you.  One great way to make them look thicker is to use a freshly sharpened eyebrow pencil with a stencil.  Use a color that is a little lighter than your hair and make fine, feathery, irregular marks to fill in the eyebrows.  In the evening, apply a little Latisse to the sparse areas.  Most people will see thickening of the hair within 2 months!  Keep in mind that using Latisse for thinning eyebrows is an off-label treatment.

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