Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Latisse?CostApplicationRisks of Bimatoprost

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Latisse?

Cost

Application

Risks of Bimatoprost

While it is used to treat medical conditions, Latisse often is used for cosmetic reasons. People seeking to grow long, lush lashes may choose the eye drops over alternatives like fake eyelashes.

This article discusses Latisse and its cost, as well as how generic products compare.

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Woman lying in beauty esthetic

Latisse is a prescription treatment used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker. Latisse was discovered when people using Lumigan (bimatoprost), aglaucomadrug, reported eyelash growth as a side effect.

Both medications have the same active ingredient. Bimatoprost was first approved in 2001 as a drug to lower intraocular pressure in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. In December 2008, the FDA extended approval for Latisse to treat people who lack eyelashes due to a medical cause. Latisse often is used for cosmetic reasons.

The manufacturer claims that after using Latisse for 16 weeks, your lashes will be 25% longer and 106% fuller.

Healthcare providers continue to use bimatoprost in treating glaucoma. In 2020, a new implantable version called Durysta was approved in the United States. It releases medication directly into the eye for four to six months at a time.

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What Does Latisse Cost?

Generic solutions typically cost less. For a 3-ml bottle, Bimatoprost sold for as low as $35 at the Target and CVS website, and $38 at Walgreens. Without insurance, it costs $36.50 per month on Amazon.

Lumigan is an option, but it can be more expensive than Latisse or generic solutions. Keep in mind that health insurance typically won’t cover the cost of Latisse used for cosmetic purposes. You also want to be careful with over-the-counter products that aren’t FDA-approved.

How to Apply Latisse

While it’s easy to get complacent with the daily application, it’s important to follow these steps and proper hygiene each time.

There is no benefit to using more Latisse, as it won’t make your eyelashes grow faster or fuller. Discontinuing use altogether will cause your eyelashes to return to their previous appearance.

Latisse is generally considered safe for most people, but it can cause red and irritated eyes. In some cases, the iris of the eye or skin on the eyelid appear to darken. Other considerations include the following:

Contact a healthcare provider right away if you become dizzy or experience shortness of breath.

Latisse is not approved for people under age 18 and is not recommended during pregnancy. If you have an eye condition, such as glaucoma ormacular edema, consult with your ophthalmologist or optometrist before using Latisse. Tell your provider if you have a history of kidney o liver disease, low blood pressure, or a slow heart rate (called bradycardia).

Summary

Talk to your healthcare provider about your reasons for using bimatoprost and the available treatment options. It’s safe for most adults but must be used as directed.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic soultion).American Academy of Opthalmology.What You Should Know About Eyelash Growth Serums.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug Approval Package: Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic solution).Abbvie/Latisse.Grow Your Lashes.Shirley M.Bimatoprost Implant: First Approval.Drugs Aging. 2020 Jun;37(6):457-462. doi:10.1007/s40266-020-00769-8.Allergen USA.Highlights of Prescribing Information.National Health Service.Bimatoprost.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic soultion).American Academy of Opthalmology.What You Should Know About Eyelash Growth Serums.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug Approval Package: Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic solution).Abbvie/Latisse.Grow Your Lashes.Shirley M.Bimatoprost Implant: First Approval.Drugs Aging. 2020 Jun;37(6):457-462. doi:10.1007/s40266-020-00769-8.Allergen USA.Highlights of Prescribing Information.National Health Service.Bimatoprost.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic soultion).American Academy of Opthalmology.What You Should Know About Eyelash Growth Serums.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug Approval Package: Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic solution).Abbvie/Latisse.Grow Your Lashes.Shirley M.Bimatoprost Implant: First Approval.Drugs Aging. 2020 Jun;37(6):457-462. doi:10.1007/s40266-020-00769-8.Allergen USA.Highlights of Prescribing Information.National Health Service.Bimatoprost.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic soultion).

American Academy of Opthalmology.What You Should Know About Eyelash Growth Serums.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Drug Approval Package: Latisse (bimatoprost opthalmic solution).

Abbvie/Latisse.Grow Your Lashes.

Shirley M.Bimatoprost Implant: First Approval.Drugs Aging. 2020 Jun;37(6):457-462. doi:10.1007/s40266-020-00769-8.

Allergen USA.Highlights of Prescribing Information.

National Health Service.Bimatoprost.

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