Eyelash Transplants in Miami, FL
Although the eyelashes do not contain very many hairs, they play a major role in both facial aesthetics and our physical comfort. In addition to framing the eyes and making them more attractive, thick, full lashes help to keep debris out of our eyes. While some people naturally have thick, full lashes, not everyone is so fortunate. For people with sparse or short lashes, or lashes that have developed bare spots due to injury, surgical intervention, or beauty habits, eyelash transplantation is a permanent solution that fills in the upper eyelashes with the patient’s own hair. Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, one of the nation’s leading hair, eyebrow, and eyelash transplantation specialists, offers the eyelash transplant procedure to patients from all over the country at his Miami and NYC practices.
Eyelash Transplant Overview
Long eyelashes are attractive for men but particularly for women, but some people naturally do not grow full, thick lashes. Although many women use mascara, eyelash extensions, or false eyelashes to boost the overall length and volume of their eyelashes, they cannot permanently augment the lashes, and can even damage the lashes in some cases. Meanwhile, medications like Latisse® can be effective in helping eyelashes to grow longer and more full, however they must be continually taken to maintain results.
An eyelash transplant is a surgical hair restoration procedure that can help men and women with sparse, short, or fully/partially missing lashes gain fuller, more aesthetically pleasing lashes. The process involves taking hair from the patient’s head and transplanting the follicles individually, threading them into the upper eyelid so as to mimic the natural growth of the eyelashes. Once the implanted hairs have begun to grow, they should continue to grow for the rest of the patient’s life.
Why Get an Eyelash Transplant?
There are many reasons people may have insufficient, damaged, or missing eyelashes. Because the eyelashes are an important component of the overall facial aesthetics, it can be very obvious when the lashes are missing or sparse. Patients typically choose an eyelash transplant because it is a permanent, natural-looking solution that provides full, thick, beautiful lashes. Eyelash transplants can be a great alternative for false eyelashes or eyelash extensions, providing a relatively natural appearance and far less maintenance. Eyelash transplants do not have the potential to damage hair growth, as extensions have been known to do. Most patients who undergo eyelash transplant surgery feel more confident after the procedure, due to the improved aesthetics the transplant provides.
Candidates for Eyelash Transplant
Good candidates for eyelash transplant are men and women who have sparse, short, or damaged upper eyelashes. Other good candidates are people missing all or part of their eyebrows due to trauma or illness, like surgery, burns, or alopecia.
Candidates for eyelash transplant surgery should be in good general health and have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure. Although the results look natural when the procedure is performed by an eyelash transplant specialist, it is important for patients to go into the surgery knowing what to expect. People who want to undergo eyelash transplant also need to be aware of the maintenance required for the transplanted hairs. These will need to be trimmed and curled regularly to mimic the surrounding natural hairs.
People who should not undergo an eyelash transplant are people with certain medical conditions or taking some medications. Additionally, those who have trichotillomania (uncontrollable urge to pull out eyelash hairs) should not undergo the procedure unless the issue is under control. Dr. Epstein evaluates candidacy carefully on an individual basis. Also patients need to recognize the risk of the procedure that can include the temporary appearance of tiny bumps on the upper eyelid, and the very small but serious risk of the hairs growing downwards into the actual eye.
Eyelash Hair Transplant
Your Eyelash Transplant Consultation
Before you can schedule an eyelash transplant with Dr. Epstein, you must schedule a consultation. Dr. Epstein has patients come in from all over the world to his Miami and NYC practices. A consultation can be done in person, or by webcam or, as many patients do, by the evaluation of photos.
During your eyelash transplant consultation, Dr. Epstein will examine your existing eyelashes and eyelids and discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure with you. He will go over your health history and ensure that it is safe for you to move forward with the treatment. You will learn more about the treatment process and have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. This should give you everything you need to make an informed decision about your treatment, and if Dr. Epstein believes you are a good candidate, you may then schedule your surgical appointment at a convenient time.
The Eyelash Transplant Procedure
Before the procedure, a mild or more potent- as desired- oral sedative will be given to help the patient relax and feel comfortable during the surgery. After the upper scalp has been numbed, Dr. Epstein will make a 1-inch incision in the scalp in order to harvest hair follicles for transplantation. This incision can typically be easily hidden in the hair after the procedure.
Once the donor hair has been extracted, Dr. Epstein places 50 to as many as 110 individual hairs into each upper eyelid. He angles these to blend in with the existing lashes, and will place as many as necessary to achieve the patient’s aesthetic goals. These hairs are actually “threaded” into the eyelid.
Recovery
Although it is a relatively minor procedure, an eyelash transplant is still surgery. Following the procedure, patients may notice some swelling and pinkness in the eyelids, and the transplanted hairs will develop tiny crusts during the first few days. Although the recovery generally involves little discomfort, patients should take at least 3-5 days off from work and normal activities. About 10 days after the procedure, sutures will be removed from the donor site, or if dissolvable sutures were used- as they are commonly- they will dissolve by 4 weeks. The transplanted hairs can be expected to fall out two weeks after the surgery—this is normal. The hairs will begin to grow back in about three months, and will continue to grow normally after this time.
Eyelash Transplant FAQ
Risks of eyelash transplant procedures are minimal, but can include tiny bumps in the upper eyelid, and the small but serious risk of the hairs growing into the actual eye (note that this has not happened with any of Dr. Epstein’s patients). Side effects are usually mild, and the donor incision is small and tends to heal well. With that said, every surgical procedure carries some risk, and Dr. Epstein will discuss these possible complications with you prior to the procedure.
Improper use of eyelash extensions can cause permanent damage to the eyelashes. If you’ve been using extensions and notice your lashes are not as thick and healthy as they were before, it’s worth giving them some time to grow back on their own. If they do not, an eyelash transplant might be a good option. Latisse® can also be used to help with eyelash growth.
They will usually grow in the same direction, as Dr. Epstein is an expert at angling the hairs to blend in the with the existing eyelash hairs. However, the hairs do come from the head, and are not exactly the same. In order to prevent them from growing longer and longer, they must be trimmed regularly, and usually need to be curled. If the scalp donor hairs become gray in color in the future, the eyelashes will then need to be dyed if desired.
Hair transplants are not an immediate fix. After the procedure, the hairs will fall out in about two weeks, and will take three months to begin growing again. This is due to the hair’s natural growth cycles. Once the hairs begin to grow, however, you will be able to see fuller, thicker lashes. Final results occur between 6 months to one year after surgery.
An eyelash transplant is a permanent surgical procedure to add living hairs to the lashes. Treatments like Latisse can help existing lashes to grow, but cannot replace missing hairs. It is important to discuss all your options with an expert to learn more about the risks and benefits of each treatment before you make a decision. Dr. Epstein usually recommends that patients first try Latisse to see if that is sufficient.
How often will I need to trim my transplanted eyelashes?
Because the transplanted hairs come from the head, they will keep growing and get long—really long. It’s important to trim them about once a week and keep them curled in order to enjoy natural-looking results.
Will there be any scarring from the procedure?
The donor site will have a 1-inch-long incision that will heal into a scar about 2mm wide. This is typically hidden by the hair, and should not be visible after the recovery period is complete and the incision has healed.
Does an eyelash transplant make the lashes look thick without the need for mascara?
The lashes should look somewhat to moderately fuller and thicker after a transplant regardless of whether or not the patient uses mascara. Many patients will still like to use mascara for an even more dramatic appearance, while others prefer the look of their lashes without makeup. It’s all up to personal preference.
Will the results look natural?
As long as patients follow maintenance instructions for trimming and curling the lashes, they should, in most cases, look natural. The hairs are curled in carefully to blend in with original eyelash hairs.
How long does the procedure last?
Because the surgery is extremely intricate and requires perfect placement and angling of up to 110 hairs in each lash, most eyelash transplants take around three hours to perform.
About Hair Transplant Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Epstein
Dr. Jeffrey Epstein is one of the nation’s leading hair transplantation specialists. He is renowned for his skill in eyebrow transplantation, and often educates other surgeons on this challenging procedure. His skill in plastic surgery and hair restoration has led to a clientele that travels from all over the country and throughout the world to undergo specialized procedures with Dr. Epstein. If you would like to schedule an eyelash transplant consultation in Miami with Dr. Epstein, call 305-306-4319, in NYC call 212-759-3484, or submit a contact form to learn more about Dr. Epstein’s consultation schedule.