How to Have Longer Eyelashes Permanently

The newest "must have" plastic surgery

Eyelash replacement surgery began as a method to restore self-esteem to patients suffering from madrosis, the loss of eyelashes, due to alopecia, trichotillimania, radiation or chemotherapy. Eyelash transplants have quickly become the newest cosmetic trend for women and even some men wanting thicker, longer lashes. Equivalent to breast augmentation, obtaining permanently longer eyelashes creates another, renewed sense of beauty focused around the eyes. The average eyelash transplant surgery costs for range from $1,500 to $3,000 per eye.

Things You'll Need

• Local anesthetic
• 30 to 40 hair follicle transplants
• Sleeping goggles

Instructions

1. Receive a local anesthetic from the plastic surgeon to prepare for harvesting of hair follicles.

2. 

   Prepare for a small incision in the back of the scalp to remove 30 to 40 hair follicles, one at a time. Donor areas are typically the nape of the neck or behind the ear.

3. 

   The plastic surgeon will sew hair follicles one by one into the patient's eyelids using a similar procedure for balding men called the "plug and sew" technique.

4. You must refrain from itching your eyelids after surgery as the transplants can become dislodged. Wear goggles when sleeping to prevent inadvertently scratching your eyelids. Keep eyes bandages in place for 24 hours after surgery. Do not take anticoagulant drugs for seven to 14 days after surgery.

Tips & Warnings

• The entire surgical process takes approximately two hours. After the surgery, eyelash growth begins in three to six months. Transplanted eyelashes grow like normal hair and must be trimmed and or curled occasionally.

• Do not take anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) five to seven days prior to this surgery. Stop taking vitamin E supplements, ingesting alcoholic beverages, or using antiseptic soap on your face five to seven days prior to the surgery. People with particularly curly or kinky hair may not be suitable for this surgery. Transplanted hair follicles grow on the eyelids as they did from the harvesting site.

References

• Eyelash Transplants
• MSNBC Article "How far would you go for the perfect lash?"

Resources

• Eyelash Transplant Questions and Answers
• All About Eyelash Transplants