Having long, thick and fuller lashes has always been an obsession for many women. Women will go to many extremes to get beautiful lashes. This obsession has made mascara a $1.1 billion a year business. Now there is a prescription that goes on like a liner that actually delivers what is promised. This may sound too good to be true but studies have shown the prescription Latisse darkens, thickens and lengthens lashes.

It all started years ago when ophthalmologists began noticing their glaucoma patients using the drug Lumigan were experiencing side effects of darker, thicker and longer eye lashes. Reseachers narrowed the effects to the active ingredient prostaglandin called bimatoprost and began working on a product focused on growing lashes. Latisse contains the same amount of bimatoprost as the glaucoma drug. But instead of going directly on to the eye it is applied like a liquid eyeliner. Latisse somehow keeps the lashes in their growth phase longer. At the end of a Latisse 16-week clinical study, 78 percent of patients averaged a 25 percent increase in lash length, 18 percent increased in darker lashes and a 106 percent increase in fullness. Most users start seeing a change in as little as 8 weeks and full visible results in 16 weeks. But of course if you stop using the product the lashes will return to their natural growth cycle.

There has not been any concrete evidence on studies that have shown that over the counter non-prostaglandin products have any effect on lashes. “It’s possible that conditioning could create a barrier that might make lashes less likely to fall out, but it has no effect on actual growth,” says Neil Sadick, Clinical professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Allergan, the manufacturer of Latisse holds the patent on the use of any prostaglandin ingredient in eyelash-growth products. Most non-prostaglandin eyelash conditioners actually cost more than the prescription Latisse.

A few simple steps can lead to great lashes. Like every routine, applying LATISSE^® is all about consistency and precision. Once you follow the basic guidelines, the results will come gradually over time. To see the full effect of your eyelash transformation, take a “before” picture before you start the treatment, and keep taking pictures every 4 weeks to chart your progress.

Step One – Before applying LATISSE^® each night, ensure your face is clean, makeup and contact lenses are removed, and any other facial care products have already been applied.

Step Two – Remove an applicator from its tray. Then, holding the sterile applicator horizontally, place one drop of LATISSE^® solution on the area of the applicator closest to the tip but not on the tip.

Step Three - Immediately draw the applicator carefully along the skin at the base of the upper eyelashes (where the eyelashes meet the skin) just as you would apply liquid eyeliner. This area should feel lightly moist without runoff.

Step Four – Blot any excess solution beyond the eyelid with a tissue.

Step Five – Dispose of the applicator after one use. Repeat for opposite eyelid, using a new sterile applicator to help minimize any potential for contamination from one eyelid to another.

Great eyelashes don’t just happen overnight. That’s why it’s important to note that LATISSE^® works gradually and remarkably — with full results after 12 to 16 weeks. Once you begin treatment, you must continue applying the topical solution each night and follow the directions for best results. Remember results are gradual over time.

Your eyelashes will experience real measurable growth. LATISSE^® works from the inside out. As the treatment progresses, you’ll begin to see changes in length, thickness and darkness gradually. After week 16, you’ll see the full effect of LATISSE^® — and so will others.

To obtain the prescription or find out if Latisse is right for you please contact our office at 972-312-8189 with any questions or for a consultation.