High-quality eyelash extensions are worth it—you can swim, cry, work out, and live your normal life without worrying about them. Latisse results are even more durable, but take time. Both are excellent, and we have patients who swear by one or the other as their secret to lashes they love.
Currently, there is only one product proven effective for growth and thickness, which is Latisse. The FDA-approved serum is formulated with an active ingredient called bimatoprost, which not only causes existing lashes to become longer but also stimulates growth in hair follicles not currently producing lashes.
Latisse encourages growth of thicker, darker, and longer eyelashes with regular applications along the upper eyelid. Patients usually note results within one month of treatment. However, treatment does not result in permanent changes.
It Works Well with Lash Extensions and Lifts
However, they can also cause your eyelashes to thin or fall out, so many lash artists recommended that their clients use Latisse before an appointment. Latisse can also be used in tandem with a lash lift or lash perm for the most dramatic outcome.
Bottom line: if you want to get something once and not have to think about it again, then a lash lift would be your best option. However, if you want something longer-lasting and don't mind a bit of upkeep, go for eyelash extensions.
If your lashes fall out naturally, they will grow back in time and with a little help from lash serums, even faster. However, lash extensions mess up the entire cycle. All those chemicals seeping into the follicles destroy your natural lashes and the constant fill-ins will minimize their growth.
It's a myth that lash extensions ruin your eyelashes. Lash extensions should be applied to your natural lashes and fall off when they do. Your eyelashes have a natural growth cycle where they grow to a certain length and then fall off once they've reached their maximum length.
Latisse is not approved for people under the age of 18. Also, it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Since this is a prescription drug, Latisse should not be used by anyone other than the person to whom it was prescribed. If you wear contact lenses, take them out before using Latisse.
What happens if I stop using LATISSE® solution? Dr. Joel Cohen, Dermatologist: Just like it takes some time for LATISSE® to work to grow lashes, if you stop using the product, your eyelashes will gradually return to their previous appearance over the course of several weeks to months.
Remember, it can take between three and 24 weeks for your eyelashes to return to “normal” after you stop using the medication completely, so there's no need to panic if you miss a day.
Actress Claire Danes, the latest celebrity spokesperson for Latisse®, shows off her new longer lashes in a before and after photo gallery posted on latisse.com. Latisse® is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA to grow lashes longer, fuller and darker.
Typically, it takes several weeks to start seeing eyelash growth by stimulating the hair growth cycle, says Few. While you may see eyelashes sprouting in as early as one month, the most dramatic change won't be visible until three to four months after you've started using Latisse.
Answer: Latisse forever
You may use it 3 nights a week for maintenance and darkness of the lashes. As to using Latisse indefinitely, as long as you have not experienced any of the Latisse side effects and you are using it as prescribed, then you should be able to continue using Latisse just as needed.
Latisse does not provide instant results. It usually takes at least two months before the lashes begin to thicken, with full results occurring within three to four months. In order to see full results from Latisse, you must be diligent in applying it nightly.
The deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus, lid thinning and fibrosis are unlikely to fully resolve with the discontinuation of Latisse. The effect is the permament premature aging of the eyelids.
One drop is usually enough to cover both eyes. Unless you have an eye infection or irritation, you can also use 1 brush for both eyes. Just be sure to clean the brush with a little gentle dish washing liquid between uses, rinse and let it dry for sanitation purposes.
LATISSE® solution use may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. LATISSE® use may cause increased brown iris pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent. While very infrequent, increased iris pigmentation has occurred when LATISSE® was administered.
Answer: Latisse
Latisse comes in two different sizes: 3mL and 5mL bottles. The manufacturer says the 3mL will last approximately one month.
Answer: Taking a break from Latisse
To maintain results of any hair growth promoter, be that Latisse for the lashes, minoxidil the scalp, or any drug that stimulates growth, taking a break is not recommended.
Latisse® does require a prescription, but with the prevalence of online healthcare sites, it's quick and easy to get one from the convenience of your computer or mobile device. You can fill out a medical questionnaire and a doctor will review it virtually and prescribe Latisse® in a matter of minutes.
“Noted in patients using medical Latisse form with the active ingredient for medical purposes and placing the product directly IN the eyes.” There is no evidence that I know of showing that if Latisse is used correctly (at the lash line) it has caused any problems with fat loss.
In most instances latisse works well to increase hair growth and thickness, but it can in some instances (very rare) cause a short term telogen effluvium in which the hairs fall out and grow back. you still should be evaluated for other conditions of eye lash hair loss such as alopecia areata and hypothyroidism.
We recommend a minimum of two months rest from eyelash extensions to allow natural lashes to recover and for full regrowth.
With this in mind, it is typically recommended to get lash fills done every two-to-three weeks. Since everyone's eyelashes and eyelash goals are different and therefore require different levels and kinds of regular maintenance, having a strong and open sense of communication with your lash technician is key.