How Much Does Latisse Cost?
The average cost of a 3mL bottle of Latisse (a one month supply) is $125, according to 152 reviews from RealSelf members.
Latisse, the brand name for a medication with the active ingredient bimatoprost, can be applied to the lash line nightly to grow darker, longer, and thicker lashes in as quickly as six weeks. Latisse works by extending the lifecycle of your eyelashes, specifically the anagen growth phase. Because lashes get more time to grow, they are able to grow stronger and longer. In six to eight weeks, you should see thicker, darker eyelashes, sometimes to the point that you might no longer need to wear mascara.
This enhanced lash growth was originally a happy side effect of glaucoma treatment with bimatoprost eye drops. After patients reported their lashes were growing longer from their glaucoma treatment, the pharmaceutical brand responsible for these eye drops, Allergan, conducted clinical trials specifically on how bimatoprost affected lash growth. Over time, bimatoprost was developed into a lash serum, and in 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Latisse to treat hypotrichosis, the medical term for having insufficient or low quality eyelashes.
Is Latisse worth the money?
The RealSelf community gives this eyelash growth serum a 63% Worth It Rating, with many people reporting longer lower and upper eyelashes.
Like any prescription medication, Latisse comes with risks and side effects, which you should consider before determining if the cost of Latisse will be worth it for you. Often, it's against medical advice to prescribe this treatment to those with eye conditions like macular edema and glaucoma, so a doctor should ask you about this before signing off on it.
Other patients who might not find it worth it due to side effects include those with light-colored eyes, people prone to eye redness or dry eyes, and those with sensitive eyelid skin; Latisse can darken light irises (the colored part of the eye) and cause irritation, too.
It’s also worth noting that in rare cases, bimatoprost can cause permanent fat atrophy around the eye, which can result in a sunken appearance.
If you’re not ready to commit to this prescription treatment just yet, consider the fact that there are plenty of eyelash growth serums available over the counter at your local beauty retailer, many of which can be more affordable than a Latisse prescription. Their active ingredients also vary, from the highly natural castor oil to another prostaglandin analogue known as isopropyl cloprostenate, both of which can mimic the lash-lengthening effects of Latisse.
What affects the cost of Latisse?
Various factors can affect your Latisse treatment cost, including:
1) The bottle size you buy
Latisse is available in two sizes: 3mL (a 30 day supply) and 5mL (four months’ supply). The bigger one costs more up-front, but there's a bit of a price break when you get a larger supply.
2) Whether you opt for the brand-name or generic treatment
Latisse and Lumigan are branded versions of bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, but generic options are also available.
These generic versions can be much less costly than the original formula, especially with prescription coupons.
3) Special offers and coupons
Some providers use low prices or deals on this prescription drug to bring in new or returning patients. As Dr. Lorrie Klein, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in Laguna Niguel, California, explains in a RealSelf Q&A, "Sometimes it is very inexpensive if the office is using it as a 'loss leader' to get your business for other procedures." For example, you might find that you’ll get a free Latisse prescription when you book a Botox treatment.
Other practices offer deals if you’re willing to commit to buying several one-month prescriptions in advance. If you’re confident that you’ll love your new longer lashes, that may be an ideal route to take.
You can also find discounts on prescription coupon sites, which could reduce the cost of your Latisse prescription by as much as 70% if you choose a generic version.
4) Where you get your Latisse
Sites that make it easy to get prescription treatments via virtual doctor consultations may simply ask you to complete a quick questionnaire and share a photo of your natural lashes for a physician to review (meaning you’ll have no direct interaction with a medical provider) before they write and fulfill a Latisse prescription. You can then have the product mailed to your home.
You’ll may find yourself spending a bit more on these websites in exchange for the convenience, but that's always the case. Some dermatologists and other providers that you'd see in person charge a fee for a Latisse consultation, but you can filter on the RealSelf Doctor Finder for those who offer a complimentary consultation and ask if they'd charge you for a prescription.
6) How frequently you use Latisse
You only need to paint the serum on the lash line of your upper eyelids every night (don't worry about the lower eyelid, as the serum will spread there once you blink), so it should last the fully expected time.
In a RealSelf Q&A, Dr. Eric Joseph, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in West Orange, New Jersey, revealed that he recommends a regimen that helps one Latisse bottle last up to four months. "We recommend starting with one drop in the cap (not two); then soak the applicator tip in the cap and apply to the lash skin once daily," he explains. "We also suggest using each disposable applicator on both eyelids for two consecutive days before discarding. It can be rinsed with water in between uses, and left to air-dry." According to Dr. Joseph, this regimen will allow the 60 sterile applicators included with the purchase to last for 120 days.
Once you’ve achieved your full results—usually at around the four month mark—you may be able to maintain them by reducing application to every other day. This will stretch your bottle and ultimately lower the cost of your treatment.
Just remember, the lash growth from this topical solution only lasts if you’re maintaining your Latisse regimen. Once you stop, your lashes will return to their original state.
Does insurance cover Latisse?
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your Latisse prescription covered by an insurance provider.
Like most cosmetic treatments, Latisse is considered not medically necessary, so it doesn’t qualify for coverage.