When it comes to a woman's eyelashes, fashion dictates that big and batable is best.
But it seems the popularity of false eyelashes has fuelled an unwelcome side-effect. Growing numbers of women are turning to hair-transplant surgery after damaging their natural lashes through repeated use of false ones and extensions, experts said.
A specialist in intricate hair-transplant surgery has been approached by more and more young women patients left with a bald patch on their eyelid.
The glue used to fix the lashes can pull natural eyelashes out as the fake set is removed — and if repeated frequently, can stop hair growth. Such is the popularity of false eyelashes sported by celebrities that some women wear up to three pairs at the same time for maximum impact.
Soaring number
Dr Bessam Farjo, of the Manchester-based Farjo Medical Centre, said: "We're seeing a significant number of enquiries from patients who have suffered from damage caused by repeatedly wearing false eyelashes. As with any hair follicle, eyelashes will cease to grow if they are repeatedly plucked out at the root.
"Hair-transplant surgery may seem like an extreme solution but in many cases, it's the only way to restore hair permanently," he said. His £3,000 (Dh17,004) procedure removes hair from the back of a patient's head and implants it into the eyelid. The implants grow just like hair on the head and need regular trimming.
Over the past 12 months, Debenhams reported a 1,000 per cent increase in sales of fake eyelashes.
