Surgeons harvest a fingertip-size patch of hair from the back of the scalp. Then they isolate individual follicles and implant anywhere from 10 to 50 lashes on the top lid using a curved needle. Patients are awake throughout the procedure (after taking a sedative) and receive a local anesthetic to minimize pain. Side effects may include temporarily puffy lids and scarring. There’s also regular upkeep: the new eyelashes continue to grow at the same rate as the hair on your head, so they must be continually trimmed. “Whenever I tell people about the surgery, that’s the thing that freaks them out,” says Loh. The cost: as much as $3,000 per lid. Fewer than a dozen surgeons in the United States regularly perform the procedure, but with demand growing, more are sure to learn.
–Julie Scelfo
