Eyelash Transplant

An eyelash transplant is, quite simply, the transplantation of hair into the eyelash line. It is typically performed on patients with missing, weak, thin or sparse eyelashes. These conditions happen for a variety of reasons including the genetic inability to properly grow eyelashes, physical trauma to the eyelashes, obsessive plucking, improper use of eyelash extensions and medical treatments that result in eyelash loss (such as chemotherapy). Essentially, eyelash transplantation takes hair follicles from the back of the scalp, or other parts of the body, and individually places them into the eyelid. Eyelash transplants place the hair follicle on the end of a specialized eyelash transplant needle. The needle creates a tract through the eyelid and exits out at the lash line.

Am I a Good Candidate for Eyelash Transplant?

GOOD CANDIDATES for eyelash transplant include:

• Patients with short, sparse, missing or thin eyelashes
• Patients with eyelashes that are damaged due to an injury or not using eyelash extensions correctly
• Those who have eyelashes that are naturally weak due to genetics

People who are NOT GOOD CANDIDATES are:

• Patients with a medical condition that makes the procedure not safe to perform such as blood clotting or issues with healing properly
• Those who suffer from trichotillomania and cannot control the impulse to pull out the hair in the eyelashes

How is Eyelash Transplant Performed?

Eyelash transplant is similar to hair transplant surgery since hair follicles are removed from a donor site and moved to the eyelash area of a patient. A numbing agent is injected in the area where the hair is harvested. The hair follicles are then removed and placed under a microscope to make sure they are intact and ready to be transplanted.  In general, the procedure takes about an hour to perform on an individual eye.

The eyelid receiving the transplanted hair is numbed using an injectable anesthetic. The hair follicles are then transplanted using a microsurgical technique to help ensure the specific placement of the hair. The hair is usually transplanted 1 or 2 hairs at a time into a small incision made to receive the graft. Careful placing of the hair follicles allows the surgeon to follow the normal eyelash alignment and curvature and maintain a natural appearance.

What is the Cost of Eyelash Transplant?

The total cost of eyelash transplant depends on the number of transplanted hairs used by the surgeon, any fees charged by the doctor or the facility and the area of the country where the surgery is performed. The price varies by doctor but the average price is between $2500 and $6000.

Recovery and Downtime

The RECOVERY process is extremely simple after an eyelash transplant. Patients tend to experience a little bit of scabbing along the lash line as well as some light bruising. However, these conditions typically resolve after a few days or a week or two. The transplanted lashes then shed, and spend a couple of months in a resting phase, before beginning to grow once again.

There is little DOWNTIME after the surgery. Minimal activity is recommended for 24 hours after the procedure. Patients cannot wear eye makeup for one week and they cannot use mascara or lash curlers for two weeks. Goggles or sunglasses should be worn for the first week, especially when the patient is sleeping, to protect the transplanted lashes (rather than wearing contacts).

Results

The results of an eyelash transplant are considered to be permanent.

Eyelash growth can begin immediately after the transplant and result in long lashes that are noticeable as early as six weeks after the surgery. The transplanted hair will shed within two week of the surgery. It can take up to 12 weeks to for them to start growing again. 

It can take a full year to see the final results. Patients should be aware that eyelash transplants, since they are scalp hair, will continue to grow and will need to be regularly trimmed and curled in order to maintain their appearance.

Any scarring is usually not noticeable to the naked eye since the incisions are so small.

Limitations of Eyelash Transplant

The main limitations of eyelash transplant are:

• The amount of hair that can be transplanted and still maintain natural looking results
• Some patients are limited from having the surgery if the cause of their damaged eyelashes is compulsive in nature, such as trichotillomania, rather than from an injury

Risks of Eyelash Transplant

Some common risks of eyelash transplant include:

• Bruising
• Pain and Tenderness
• Swelling
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Cysts on the eyelid

A Good Option for Treating Unhealthy Eyelashes or a Lack of Eyelashes

Eyelash transplant is a delicate procedure that requires precision and skill on the part of the surgeon. In general, patients enjoy a high degree of satisfaction with their new, long and healthy eyelashes. Patients who want to avoid the need for an eyelash transplant should not use eyelash extensions (which are notorious for loss in eyelashes) However, those who do need the treatment will find the procedure to be easy and beneficial for treating unhealthy eyelashes.

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team - MA

Based on an exclusive interview provided by Alan Bauman, MD in Boca Raton, FL.