Eyelash transplant surgery is gaining popularity as the new must-have procedure for women and sometimes even men. The procedure uses the same "plug and sew" techniques developed in the hair loss industry.

"Longer, thicker lashes are an ubiquitous sign of beauty. Eyelash transplantation does for the eyes what breast augmentation does for the figure," said Dr. Alan Bauman, a leading proponent of eyelash transplants.

"This is a brand new procedure for the general public (and) it is going to explode," Bauman told Reuters.

During eyelash transplant surgery, a small incision is done at the back of the scalp to harvest some 30 or 40 hair follicles that will each be sewn onto the patient's eyelids.

The surgery requires only light sedation and local anesthetics. One eye can cost around $3,000.

The technique was first pioneered for victims of burns or congenital malformations of the eye. Now, 80 percent are done for cosmetic reasons.

Dr. Sara Wasserbauer, a Northern California hair restoration surgeon, says she has been flooded by inquiries.

She said, "I have been getting a ton of eyelash inquiries ... If I had $10 dollars for every consultation, I'd be a rich woman."