LATISSE Eyelash Enhancement
By Sara Wasserbauer | Published on August 16, 2010 | 0 Comments
Some people are blessed with eyelashes that are long, thick, and alluring. Others, however, are not quite as lucky. Lackluster eyelashes can be a significant problem for women in particular, as many rely on their lashes to highlight their facial features and lend to their overall attractiveness.
Of course, there are plenty of tools on the cosmetic market designed to help women improve their lashes, from curlers to serums to a wide array of mascaras. Although such products can be quite helpful on a short-term basis, they don’t cater to the root of the problem: poor or limited lash growth.
Fortunately, those suffering with thin, barely-there eyelashes now have the option of fighting back with a new product called LATISSE. LATISSE works by growing eyelashes both thicker and longer so that the results are evident even without the use of mascara. Sara Wasserbauer M.D. is a hair restoration specialist who runs her own hair transplant clinic in Walnut Creek, California, and according to her, LATISSE is an excellent option for patients who aren’t satisfied with the way their natural lashes look.
Although many of the procedures performed at Dr. Wasserbauer’s San Francisco area clinic are surgical in nature, the great thing about LATISSE is that it does not require any type of transplant. Rather, LATISSE is a solution that’s applied to the lashes and works by stimulating actual hair growth.
Interestingly enough, the lash-growing abilities of LATISSE were discovered accidentally by physicians who used the same formula to treat glaucoma patients. Once the aesthetic benefits of LATISSE became apparent, cosmetic professionals started offering the option to clients looking to improve their lashes.
Although LATISSE is able to work wonders for eyelashes, according to Dr. Wasserbauer, it has not been proven effective at stimulating hair growth on a whole. Though studies suggest that the formula may be useful for improving eyebrow growth, there are no plans within the hair restoration community to offer it as a solution for general hair loss in the near or distant future.
Although many are touting LATISSE as somewhat of a “miracle formula,” Dr. Wasserbauer does warn that the product can come with some side effects. Some patients have reported a darkening of the skin at the crease of the lid that holds the lashes. Furthermore, studies have found that the use of LATISSE can result in a darkening of light-colored irises as well; in other words, blue and green-eyed patients who apply the product consistently could wind up with darker-colored eyes. As is the case with most medications, not every patient will experience these side effects, and it’s difficult to predict the extent to which these aspects of use will be bothersome in practice.
While LATISSE is not the sole product on the aesthetic market designed to stimulate lash growth, it is the only one that actually requires a prescription. According to Dr. Wasserbauer, LATISSE is an excellent first step for patients who come in looking for solutions to the problem of inadequate lash growth. Rather than start people off with surgery, Dr. Wasserbauer prefers to have them try LATISSE for a year first to see if the results are consistent and satisfactory; and on the other side of the coin, many patients are happy to give LATISSE a try before opting for a more intense form of treatment.
Dr. Wasserbauer advises her patients who agree to try LATISSE that the results of the formula are generally not visible right away. However, after using the product consistently for four months or longer, patients should begin to notice remarkable changes in the thickness, length, and darkness of their lashes. Dr. Wasserbauer likes to remind her patients that thanks to LATISSE, they should no longer have to suffer with disappointing lashes.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.