Longer, Thicker, Darker Eyelashes With Latisse®

Did you know? Latisse® is the new prescription medicine for growing longer, thicker eyelashes. Patients are already coming to my office and asking for it. The aesthetician in my office has been using it for a number of weeks and already reports a noticeable difference in her eyelashes.

Latisse® was developed because of a side-effect of a commonly used eyedrop for glaucoma. I can always tell if these patients are using their drops because their lashes are thicker and longer! Allergan decided to reformulate this medicine into a liquid which can be applied to the base of the upper eyelashes. In their clinical trial of 278 patients, 79% of patients noted thicker, longer and darker lashes at week 20 compared to 20% using a placebo. The majority noted improvement after two months. 

The eyelashes gradually return to their baseline appearance after discontinuing the medicine.

There is a theoretical side-effect of permanent darkening of the iris (the eye color), though this did not happen in the clinical trial, and is unlikely to occur if the medicine does not enter the eye. There is also the theoretical side-effect of reversible skin darkening, but this did not occur in the trial either.

Did you also know? Allergan, the makers of Latisse®, also make BOTOX® and Juvederm®. I enjoy using all of these products in my practice, and my patients enjoy looking younger, with a natural appearance.