What to Know if You are Considering Latisse
Our eyes are among the most emotive parts of the body, and one of the first to reveal signs of aging. An efficacious yet oft-overlooked way to make the eyes appear more youthful and spirited is by surrounding them with thick, lush lashes. Latisse, the only FDA-approved lash enhancing serum to date, has consistently been shown to be among the best (if not the best) lash treatments available today. Despite a wealth of clinical data in support of Latisse, many patients are concerned about claims that Latisse may discolor the iris or irritate the eyes, in addition to its comparatively higher price. If you are considering undergoing Latisse treatments but need clarification and information before finalizing your decision, today’s article offers a brief breakdown of points to consider before selecting Latisse.
The Effects
Latisse takes approximately 8 weeks to reveal its effects, with 12-16 weeks required before full changes are seen. While this is somewhat slower than the rate of change for similar non-prescription lash enhancers, no lash enhancer has been able to match the efficacy of Latisse. For example, in a multicenter, double-masked study, 78% of experimental participants saw a significant increase in overall eyelash prominence, with most patients noting that their eyelashes appeared 106% fuller, 25% longer, and 18% darker after using Latisse for several weeks. For those who used non-Latisse lash enhancers, only 18% saw a noticeable improvement in the appearance of their eyelashes. According to company research, Latisse is the only lash enhancing treatment (prescription or over the counter) which can make the lashes grow to such a notable degree within a relatively short period of time (2-4 months) (Latisse).
Better yet, research suggests that Latisse can exert appreciable effects on the lashes of those of different races and ages. In the aforementioned study, 91% of the participants using Latisse were aged 35 or older, and the women were from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic (Latisse).
The Side Effects
Like any medication or procedure, the benefits of Latisse must be balanced with the potential for adverse effects. Symptoms such as skin hyperpigmentation, dry eye, pruritus, and conjunctival hyperemia have been seen in fewer than 4% of users. Changes in the eyelashes and periorbital pigmented tissues are usually reversible once patients discontinue using Latisse. Latisse has been known to darken one’s eyelids, darken one’s irises, alter one’s intraocular pressure, cause eyelid edema and eye swelling, induce hypersensitivity, blur vision, and cause the eyes to be itchy and irritated. Those with low intraocular pressure or who have intraocular inflammation should alert their physician to these issues, as Latisse may exacerbate these symptoms and cause complications with ocular health. While adverse effects can happen to any individual, simply discussing your eye history with your doctor and following the proper application instructions will often suffice to protect you from major adverse effects when using Latisse.
The Cost
Among the chief concerns about using Latisse is that it is slightly more costly compared to apparently similar, non-prescription treatments. However, the cost of Latisse includes a number of services and ingredients that other products often don’t offer. For your health, Latisse comes with 30 individual applicators, so that you can dispose of each applicator after a single use. This was designed to prevent the accidental introduction of bacteria or dirt from your eyes into the bottle of Latisse and subsequently risking an eye infection. Latisse is only available by prescription, meaning that it must be prescribed for you by a physician familiar with your ocular health and history. This safeguard theoretically reduces the chance of experiencing an adverse reaction when using Latisse compared to the medically unsupervised use of non-prescription products.
Latisse contains the specially developed and patented ingredient bimatoprost, which specifically promotes lash growth. Conversely, most other lash enhancing serums rely on a selection of publicly available ingredients whose particular concentrations may not suit each user’s needs. With Latisse, you are paying for a specially-formulated ingredient that was designed to and has been shown to consistently improve the appearance, length, and thickness of one’s eyelashes.
Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for a way to rejuvenate the appearance of tired eyes or simply looking for thicker, more luxurious lashes, Latisse may be an ideal treatment for you. While other treatments may act more quickly than Latisse and are generally less expensive, Latisse offers dramatic results that, to our knowledge, no other lash treatment has paralleled. Typically taking 12-16 weeks for full results to be seen, Latisse has been clinically shown to make lashes appear 106% fuller and 25% darker. If you would like to learn more about Latisse or would like to schedule a free consultation with board certified dermatologist Dr. Busquets for help determining your eligibility for Latisse, please call us at (724) 933-1800 or email.
