Hair Restoration with the Erbium YAG Laser

ABSTRACT

We introduced in 1995 the erbium YAG laser to hair restoration surgery. With this device, produced by ESC Co. (Vorkham, Israel), we obtained a 90% yield from the implanted grafts, achieving a density that was 20% higher than that obtained using the cold steel method. Causing 10 times less thermal damage than the CO₂ laser, the erbium YAG laser brought new technology to both skin resurfacing and baldness surgery. At the end of 1997 we introduced an upgrade with a new 3.0 J device. With more power, we can now make the same orifices in a single shot. This was a considerable improvement and made the procedure faster, with the same degree of thermal damage. In this article we present our experience, highlighting how we handle the erbium laser, results, and complications. Laser hair surgery is still an open chapter, where investigation and continuous research should be important goals for those dedicated to the constant improvement of baldness surgery.

KEYWORDS

Hair restoration - baldness surgery - erbium YAG laser

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