MINI-SLIT GRAFT HAIR TRANSPLANTATION USING THE ULTRAPULSE CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER HANDPIECE

BACKGROUND. The new Ultrapulse carbon dioxide (CO2) laser technology h as added a new dimension to many cosmetic surgery procedures including hair transplantation. Early reports by Linger and David (Laser Hair T ransplantation. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1994;20:515-21) have been encour aging with the potential of minimal bleeding, ease of placing transpla nted grafts, and an overall shortened operative time. A 2-mm slit hand piece has been recently created to expedite this procedure. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to further investigate the use and effic iency of the new Ultrapulse CO2 laser slit handpiece in hair transplan ts. METHOD. Mini-slit graft hair transplants using the new Ultrapulse CO2 laser slit handpiece were done on 25 patients in 30 transplant ses sions. Donor minigrafts were obtained by the strip harvesting techniqu e using a triple-blade scalpel. Approximately 200-400 recipient slits were made with the 2-mm slit handpiece at the laser setting of 350 mJ, 12 W, 0.8 seconds per pulse. RESULTS. All grafts were easily placed i nto recipient sites with minimal bleeding and charring. The procedure was done in half the time of the conventional non-laser technique. Pos toperatively, patients were quite satisfied with little pain and swell ing. Histologic exams of the laser-treated slits showed minimal adjace nt tissue necrosis. Long-tern I follow-lip visits showed good regrowth of hair in these grafts. CONCLUSION. The new Ultrapulse CO2 laser sli t handpiece proved to be an effective tool for mini-slit graft hair tr ansplantation.