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How to enhance my eyelashes?

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Posted November 21, 2016 in News

You can give butterfly kisses with them, wink with them, and even make a wish with them. Lush eyelashes are sought after by many women.

The mascara industry in the US generates millions of dollars annually by women looking to enhance their peepers. What if you could have longer, darker and fuller lashes without mascara? Latisse is an FDA approved treatment to grow and enhance your lashes.

What do eyelashes do?

According to a study in The Journal of the Royal Society Interface, eyelashes serve to protect the eye in a few different ways.  The eye is always exposed which makes it more vulnerable to infections and injury. Eyelashes can:

  • Act as sensors to trigger the eye to blink when touched protecting it from foreign objects
  • Act as “dust catchers” to protect the eye from dust and debris
  • Control air flow to maintain the optimal moisture level for the surface of the eye

What is the average growth cycle of an eyelash?

An average growth cycle of an eyelash lasts 30-45 days. It then goes into a resting phase before eventually falling out.

How does Latisse work?

We don’t know how Latisse exactly works, but it is thought to prolong the active growth phase of the eyelash cycle. Extending this part of the cycle increases the percentage of lashes and promotes them to grow fuller, longer and darker.

Latisse is the only FDA approved prescription treatment to help grow lashes. Over the counter treatments only condition the lashes you have and cannot promote growth.

How long does it take for Latisse to work?

It takes 16 weeks for full results from Latisse. It works gradually, so I often tell my patients that they may start seeing improvement after just 4 weeks but maximum results will not be seen until 16 weeks of daily use. You should not decrease or stop using Latisse when you first see improvement.

How do you use Latisse?

Latisse is supplied in a bottle with disposable sterile applicators. You should wash your face completely clean of all makeup and remove contact lenses if you wear them.

Wash your hands and apply one drop of Latisse to a disposable applicator and carefully apply it to the upper eyelid at the base of the lashes. Do not apply the solution to the lower lash line.

If there is any excess solution on your upper eyelid, gently blot with a tissue.  Do not reuse the applicator or any other brushes/cotton tipped applicators as it will increase your risk for an eye infection.

How much does Latisse cost and where can I purchase it?

Latisse costs approximately $120 per one month supply. Allergan, the manufacturers of Latisse, offers a points-based rewards program called Brilliant Distinctions.

You will earn points each time you purchase Latisse and receive coupons for money off future purchases. Latisse is a prescription medication available at pharmacies and can be purchased directly from some doctor’s offices.

Who should not use Latisse and are there any side effects?

  • Latisse should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
  • It should also be avoided if you are pregnant.
  • Patients with intraocular inflammation of the eye or uveitis should also use caution.
  • Some patients experience itching of the eye, darkening of the skin along the upper eyelid, dry eye symptoms or redness of the eyelid. These side effects occur in less than 4% of patients.

If you feel like you don’t have enough lashes, want thicker, fuller or darker lashes, Latisse may be right for you! Contact us at NOVA Plastic Surgery for more information.

Written by Michele Gittings

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