Longer Lashes From Your Plastic Surgeon with Latisse
Coming soon (if it's not there already) to a plastic surgeon's office near you: Latisse. Put your falsies away, ladies -- you can grow longer lashes of your very own!
You may have seen Brooke Shields in the television ads for a new product called Latisse. I know I have. Many many times. Makes me wonder if the economy is hurting Botox sales so much that Allergan (the company that makes Botox, Latisse, breast implants, and a host of other plastic surgery-related products) is getting desperate? Or is it the new competition from Dysport that has sent Allergan in search of another basket for their eggs?
Personally, I find these commercials disturbing. They show before pictures of Brooke's lashes, and talk about how Latisse "treats hypotrichosis" (an apparently tragic condition which consists of having "inadequate or not enough" lashes). Of course, I thought Brooke's "before" lashes were quite normal--not spectacular, perhaps, but normal. But then again, maybe my perception is skewed since I'm obviously suffering from hypotrichosis. Once again, we are being told that normal is not good enough.
I'm also a bit bothered by the safety warnings: Don't use this product if you have a history of eye pressure problems, have irritated eyes, or are on medication for eye pressure problems. It goes on to say that people using Latisse may increase increased brown pigmentation of the iris, which is most likely permanent.
Latisse comes in a tube and is meant to be painted onto the lashline with a brush, sort of like mascara in the old days. You apply it day and night and in 12 weeks, your lashes are darker, thicker, longer, and more plentiful. I've seen the before and after photos on the official Latisse website, and I must admit, they are impressive.
So, will I be rushing out to my local plastic surgeon's office for some Latisse to pump up my "insufficient" lashes? Okay, I may be a little tempted...but not enough. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but if a product is strong enough to change my eye color, I'll pass. Of course, the product has been tested for safety before being released to the market, and has come up (mostly) clean. Still, there are risks, and I am just left wondering if it's worth it. I think I'll stick with my long-time friend and lash-enhancer -- one with no safety warnings beyond "don't poke your eye out" and "get a new tube every 6 months" -- good old-fashioned mascara.
See plastic surgery before and after photos.
I haven’t tried Latisse (and am glad after your blog posting) but use a product called Revitalash. I love what their website has to say about how the product was conceived. Best of all, it works!!! No nasty side effects and affordable. I’ll stick to what I know works…
Latisse is a very safe drug. In fact it made it through FDA testing faster than usual do to it’s already established safe track record as Lumigan. If you don’t wish to use the drug that’s fine, but all drugs have side effects. Why in the world are the safety warnings bothersome? Only an idiot would not have the common sense to not use this product if they had eye pressure problems or irritated eyes. The permanent iris coloring did not occur in testing with Latisse, only with Lumigan which is used in eyedrop form. From what I have read about Revitalash the older formulation used the same bimatoprost chemical as Latisse, before it was pulled from the market for patent infringement. I guess it is affordable. They stole someone’s patent. But you’re right you don’t have to worry about the safety, because it is safe.
Ms. Kita did not do her homework on Latisse safety!
Kayla, well put!
Actually, I did do my homework, and am very well informed on Latisse safety. I did not say that it is unsafe.
My point was only that for the risks that are involved (and yes, ALL drugs do have side effects and safety warnings) I would not be likely to use it myself. Why? Because I don’t think the benefits are worth the risks.
Perhaps if one truly has very little in the way of lashes, and it bothers them, then yes, it might be worth the risks. However, I feel the ads imply that people with what I would consider normal lashes have a disorder (hypotrichosis) that NEEDS treatment with Latisse.
A blog is editorial in nature, and therefore reflects my personal opinion. I personally don’t believe skimpy lashes warrant use of a drug with possible side effects. This does not mean that I am mis-informed, only that we have a difference of opinion.
I was looking for eyelash enhancers and did a little research. I chose Revitalash over Latisse. Buying Latisse was risky, for me. Revitalash doesn’t give me side effects. My lashes are now full and long!