Latisse for longer lashes: Do the pros agree with the celebrity claims?

If you’ve seen Brooke Shields (and now, Claire Danes) touting the virtues of Latisse for the growth of eyelashes, you might wonder if this new treatment is everything the celebrities claim it to be. According to its manufacturer, Allergan, Latisse is the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment for inadequate or not enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker. Certainly, the before-and-after shots apparently speak for themselves. Check ‘em out:

So does Latisse really work? Is it safe? How soon do you see results? Taking our usual we-don’t-really-trust-celebrities stance, we decided to talk to someone who knows the truth.

Jennifer Mackie is a cosmetic surgery program manager at Dean Clinic. On a daily basis, she’s surrounded by experts like dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons and aestheticians. She knows about the products, procedures and programs that comprise everything from a facial to a facelift. She sees the results, investigates what works, and knows when patients feel complete satisfaction with their choices. Safe to say, she knows the ins and outs of Latisse, how it works, what the possible side effects are, and what patients are saying about it.

When we interviewed Jennifer, she actually asked us the first question: “Do you want to know about Latisse from a clinician’s standpoint, or from a patient’s standpoint?” “How about both?” we responded.

“This will be easy then,” said Jennifer, “I use it myself.”

Quite an endorsement! Jennifer continued, saying, “I have short lashes, and I was very self-conscious during the times I didn’t wear eye makeup. I’ve seen so many great results with Latisse, so I thought I should try it myself.”

Latisse works gradually, with full results after 12 to 16 weeks. Once you begin treatment, you must continue applying the topical solution each night, carefully following the directions for the product. As the treatment progresses, you’ll begin to see gradual changes in length, thickness and darkness. After week 16, you’ll see the full effect. At that point, many patients switch to a maintenance program, using the product on opposite days or every third day.

How did Jennifer get started with Latisse? Like every patient, she took part in a short consultation, reviewing possible side effects. “If a patient has any health concerns or eye issues, especially eye pressure conditions, it’s important that he or she checks with their primary care provider first. Latisse is very safe, but there are some risks for people with certain medical conditions.”

Jennifer told us that Latisse is intended only for use on the skin of the upper eyelid. Each application requires the use of a sterile applicator, purely for good hygiene and safety. The product shouldn’t be used any other way. It’s possible for hair growth to occur in other areas of your skin that Latisse frequently touches, so any excess solution outside the upper eyelid margin should be blotted away to reduce the chance of that happening.

Jennifer is also quick to point out the first concern she hears from patients. “One of the biggest worries I hear about is that Latisse can cause dark spots on the eyes. We’ve never seen that occur with our patients. It can happen, but it’s very, very rare. Plus, our staff is here for questions and support during the program, so we can continuously monitor, educate and evaluate.”

What about you, Jennifer? Have you had any side effects with Latisse? “I’ve experienced dry eyes. I used eye drops at first, and then the condition went away a short time later. That’s typically what happens if you experience dry eyes from Latisse.” According to Allergan, this type of side effect occurs in approximately 4% of patients who use the product.

Now for the results. Does Latisse really work? “It does exactly what it promises,” says Jennifer. “I love it! If a patient is looking for longer eyelashes, this is the best way, by far, to achieve that.”

She continues: “It’s such a time-saver, giving you the look of mascara without doing anything. It’s just awesome when you’re on vacation and it’s great on the weekends, too. I’ve seen a lot of people who use it, and we haven’t had an unhappy patient yet!”

So could the celebrity claims really be true? In this case, the answer seems to be a definite yes. If you’re thinking about the next step, you can get more information about Latisse or any of the products and services offered through Dean Essentials Skin Care. Just click here.