Eyebrow & Eyelash Hair Transplants

It’s a safe, effective & minimally invasive same day procedure!

Aesthetic Eyelash Transplantation

When eyelash transplantation is performed for cosmetic enhancement, the patient usually wants greater eyelash density or eyelash length. For eyebrow transplantation, the patient desires increased density of the brow after over plucking has thinned out the eyebrow.

Women and men with complete or partial eyelash or eyebrow loss can regain their eyebrow and eyelash through a micro surgical hair transplant procedure. It is safe, effective, minimally invasive, and takes only 1 session in most cases.

 

The absence of eyelashes removes one of the salient anatomical features associated with normal facial appearance. A person without eyelashes has an abnormal appearance lacking one of the important anatomical landmarks of the face.

What are the Causes of eyebrow and/or eyelash loss in men and women?

• Chronic Blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelid margin is the most common cause of lash loss, AKA madarosis.
• Plucking, to reshape the eyebrow, results in permanent loss of eyebrows.
• Self-inflicted obsessive plucking of eyebrows and/or eyelashes (trichotillomania).
• Congenital atrichia- congenital absence of hair on all parts of the body.
• Physical trauma, e.g., accident, thermal, chemical or electrical burns.
• Systemic or local disease that causes loss of eyebrow and/or eyelashes
• Congenital inability to grow eyebrows and/or eyelashes
• Medical or surgical treatments that result in eyebrow or eyelash loss—e.g., radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgical removal of tumor.
• Alopecia areata for some individuals.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Eyelash and Eyebrow Transplantation?

Selection of patients for eyelash transplantation is under two categories:

1. Reconstructive-eyelash transplantation to correct eyelash loss due to trauma or disease.

2. Cosmetic or Aesthetic-eyelash transplantation to achieve an aesthetic enhancement of existing eyelashes and eyebrows.

Is eyebrow and/or eyelash restoration procedure safe?

Yes, it is a minimally invasive micro surgical procedure. Usually 1 session is all that is required.

In some patients with extensive eyelid tissue damage, eyelash transplantation may not be possible until eyelid tissue reconstruction has been successfully performed. Eyelid surgery should be performed by a physician with training and experience in surgical techniques and extensive knowledge of eyelid anatomy. The eyelid is a tissue of great complexity and this is an area that Dr. Rubbani specializes in.

Where does the donor hair come from? How is the procedure done?

The donor hair is extracted one follicle at a time from either your scalp or your leg. The donor is usually taken from a site that furnishes finer rather than coarser hair; finer hair is a better "match" for eyebrow hair. Donor hair is transplanted micro surgically 1 or 2 hairs at a time. Each graft is placed into a small incision prepared for it.

Is the result natural?

Yes, they are your own naturally growing hair. In many cases, they are more beautifully shaped and contoured than what you were born with. Since the donor hairs continue to grow, so will these transplanted hairs, requiring curling and trimming as maintenance.

How long will it take before I see results?

Hair grows in cycles so the effect is not immediate. It will take 4-6 months before the new hairs start to grow in your eyebrow or eyelash.

Are the new hairs permanent?

Yes in most cases. Sometimes a small maintenance session may be required.

What is the Post operative maintenance?

For some individuals, occasional trimming as well as "contouring" of the transplanted eyebrows or eyelashes may be required until the grafts start to form their own curves.

What are the complications?

Post operative complications are often limited to minor itching, pain and possibly swelling in some patients. Patients should avoid scratching the recipient site as this may dislocate or dislodge the grafts.

Who is a candidate for this procedure?

Cosmetic/Aesthetic Eyelash Transplantation

When eyelash transplantation is performed for aesthetic enhancement, the patient's desires greater eyelash density (adding more hairs to the eyelid), or eyelash length (grafting hairs into the eyelid that have the capacity to grow longer than existing eyelashes). The patient's should discuss their wishes for enhancement in detail with Dr. Rubbani. The physician will determine what aesthetic enhancement can be reasonably anticipated, and the physician and patient must agree on a desirable outcome of the surgery.

Systemic or local disease that causes hair loss must be under control to assure that hair restoration can succeed

Obsessive-compulsive plucking (trichotillomania) must be treated to assure that restored hair will not be plucked out. This will require a psychiatrist’s supervision. Trauma, burns or surgery may have resulted in formation of scar tissue; reconstructive surgery may be necessary before eyebrow/eyelash restoration. The degree of eyebrow loss may vary from complete to partial; the degree of loss may be a consideration in selection. If that is needed Dr. Rubbani can perform the surgery prior to the transplantation.

Eyebrow transplants take about 8-10 months to fully grow in. These hairs need to be routinely trimmed as well.

If you are a patient who has tattoos of the eyebrow and eyelids these will actually help the overall outcome of the transplantation giving depth to the hairs that are implanted. If the patient desires the eyebrow or eyelid tattooing, we can refer you to a technician who is spectacular at performing this procedure.

During the Consultation:

Before eyelash transplantation, the patient and physician must agree regarding:

The patient's full understanding of the procedure, including possible complications and postoperative recovery.

The anticipated outcome (aesthetic enhancement), including understanding that eyelash transplantation can achieve significant aesthetic improvement but cannot achieve completely "natural" results associated with natural eyelashes (for example, it is often necessary for the patient to use an eyelash curler and to trim eyelashes for the life of the transplant).

Preoperative Preparations Include:

For 7 days before surgery

1. stop taking any of anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, Plavix and warfarin (Coumadin), and do not resume intake until advised by the physician,
2. stop intake of vitamin E supplements,
3. stop drinking alcoholic beverages,
4. use an antiseptic soap for facial cleansing, and
5. take a course of preventive antibiotics as prescribed by the physician.
6. take 1000 mg of vitamin C daily, (rosehips Vit C)
7. avoid cutting or trimming hair in the donor area

How is the procedure performed, what is the technique for Eyelash and Eyebrow Transplantation

Donor Hair

The purpose of hair transplantation is to take grafts of "living" hairs and their follicles from a donor area, like the scalp or leg, and move them to a hairless recipient area where they will continue to grow. Donor hair transplanted to the eyelid must match the quality of eyelashes as much as possible. The transplanted hair will continue to grow in the eyelid; as it grows, the patient may have to follow a regular regimen of curling the transplanted hair to the "curl" of natural eyelashes, and trim the growing hair to maintain it at the length of eyelashes. This can be done in our offices.

Postoperative Recovery and Care

Pruritus (moderate to intense itching) of the eyelids frequently occurs immediately after surgery and may persist for one or more days. Itching should be differentiated from discomfort; discomfort beyond one day is normal. Because scratching of the eyelids or brows will easily dislodge transplanted hairs, itching should be relieved as much as possible by ophthalmic ointments, mild analgesics such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ice packs. The patient must wear goggles while sleeping to prevent inadvertent eyelid scratching. We recommend a sterile dressing over the eyebrows to prevent scratching while asleep. Anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin and warfarin should not be resumed until advised. About 7 to 14 days is required for complete postoperative recovery.

To properly direct the new lashes the patient may need to use an eyelash curler to encourage proper curl. The new lashes and brows also must be trimmed regularly to proper length.

What about Medical Treatment for Eyelash Enhancement?

A class of drugs known as prostaglandin analogues is currently administered as eyedrops to treat the increased intraocular pressure of glaucoma. Ophthalmologists noted that latanoprost stimulated growth of existing eyelashes and darkened the eyelashes of treated patients. The drug does not stimulate growth of new eyelashes.

Eyelash growth and darkening is a side effect in glaucoma patients. Other side effects include blurred vision, eyelid inflammation, permanently darkened eyelashes, thickening of the eyelashes, permanent darkening of the iris of the eye, and a temporary burning sensation.

The use of prostaglandin analogues for reasons other than glaucoma treatment has not been thoroughly investigated. Their use for eyelash enhancement should be approached with great caution, the doctor will decide if you are an appropriate candidate for this treatment.