Latisse now available
It has been said that the eyes are the window of the soul. Like many clichés, there is more than a little truth to this. Our eyes are the most expresive part of our faces. When we look at people, we look into their eyes. If your eyes look aged or tired, your whole face will look the same. If your eyes look plain, your face will too. If you doubt the last, find a few photographs online of models and movie stars with, and without, their makeup. Look at the difference a little mascara makes. It is astounding.
Not everyone is blessed with long, full, dark eyelashes. Blondes in particular tend to have very faint eyelashes. Until now, mascara was the only solution and typically, the lashes do not look real when viewed up close. Often they appear caked with mascara.
Enter Latisse (bimatoprost). Originally, bimatoprost, under the trade name Lumigen, was placed in the eye to treat glaucoma. Like many drugs, it had some side effects, one of which was very interesting: patients on bimatoprost grew long, full, dark eyelashes. The manufacturer quickly saw the potential of this. Allergan sought, and obtained, FDA approval to market bimatoprost as Latisse for growing eyelashes. Instead of putting it in the eye, it is applied topically along the upper eyelash line with a fine applicator.
Treatment with Latisse could not be simpler. One drop is placed on the applicator and a single swipe is made across the upper lash line. The manufacturer recommends using one applicator per eyelid to avoid cross contamination. Results can be seen in as little as 4 weeks but the full result may not be apparent until 16 weeks of treatment to allow for full growth of the lashes. Treatment must be continued or the eyelashes gradually revert back to their normal state.
Response has been excellent with more than 90% of patients showing visible results. Several of our staff have used Latisse and the results have been impressive.
No medication is without potential side effects. The most common problems are eyelid redness, itching, and irritation, occurring in 3-4% of users. A darkening of the lid line can occur due to stimulation of pigment cells. This has reversed itself when Latisse is stopped. When placed in the eye as Lumigen, bimatoprost, sometimes caused a brown discoloration of the iris, the colored part of the pupil. This effect was usually permanent. In studies of Latisse, as applied only to the eyelid, this effect has not been seen but users are cautioned to watch for this. It is really a problem only in persons with blue or green eyes. You must be careful not to get Latisse anywhere else but on the lid line as it can cause hair growth anywhere. Yes, it is that effective.
Allergan is expecting Latisse to eclipse even Botox in popularity as women discover they can throw away their mascara. The fact that it is not an injection, but rather a simple application will certainly be a huge plus for many women.
Latisse is avaible by prescription only. Our office will be offering Latisse to our patients at a discounted fee. To learn more about Latisse, go to http://www.latisse.com. Check it out!
R. Bosshardt, MD, FACS
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