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Latisse® for Lusher Lashes

Most people who come to us from Orange County have already heard about Latisse®, the eyelash grower that’s been on the market since the FDA approved it in December 2008. But we frequently get questions on how to use it and if it really work as an eyelash lengthener.

Before it was used as an eyelash grower, Latisse® was and still is a version of a glaucoma drug in eye drop form called bimatoprost (brand name Lumigan, manufacturer Allergan, Inc.). It has been used as a glaucoma med since FDA approval in 2001. It became an eyelash med/cosmetic enhancer when eye doctors and their glaucoma patients noticed that when they used it for their glaucoma their eyelashes appeared longer and lusher eyelashes over time. Even celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy and Mandy Moore plus many, many more have reportedly used Latisse®, and its advertising spokespeople have included Brooke Shields and Claire Danes.

Latisse® lengthens, thickens and darkens eyelashes through a process that isn’t fully understood. Similar to the hair on your head, eyelashes sprout, grow for a while and eventually fall out. Latisse® somehow extends both the growth phase and increases the number of hairs that sprout. According to clinical studies and reports from our Orange County clients, full results appeared after 12 to 16 weeks of daily use.

It is recommended that you apply Latisse® by dabbing it on the upper lash line each night with the sterile applicators supplied. Latisse® then spreads to your lower lash line automatically as you blink. According to the manufacturer, you should not apply it in your eye or onto your lower lid. Also, before applying, your face must be clean and your makeup and contact lenses removed. It’s also important to apply it carefully, since Latisse® may promote hair growth on other skin areas.

Usually after 6-8 weeks most people begin to see results. After three or four months, it’s possible to maintain results by applying the Latisse® just every two days. However, if you stop using Latisse®, your eyelashes will gradually return to their former state.

According to the manufacturer’s study, participants experienced these results after 16 weeks:

  • Eyelash length increased by 25 percent.
  • Thickness and fullness increased by 106 percent.
  • Eyelash darkness increased by 18 percent.