BACKGROUND. A new ultrapulse CO2 laser has been investigated for its p
ossible use in hair transplanting. This laser, because of its ultrasho
rt high energy pulses, produces far less thermal damage to adjacent ti
ssues, including hair follicles, than earlier types of CO2 lasers. The
potential advantages of using such a laser in minigrafting are review
ed and include less bleeding, greater density, and absence of ''compre
ssion.'' OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to see if hair survi
val in grafts placed into laser-prepared sites would be as good or bet
ter than that seen with scalpel slits. METHOD. Hair counts were used i
n 10 patients to compare hair survival in grafts placed into laser-pre
pared sites and into scalpel-prepared sites in a comparable but contra
lateral location. RESULTS. Average graft hair counts were greater in l
aser-prepared sites in four of 10 patients, equal to grafts in scalpel
-prepared sites in five, and fewer in one. Hair growth occurred earlie
r in laser-prepared sites in five of the 10 patients. CONCLUSION. The
authors are optimistic that the ultrapulse laser will become an import
ant tool in hair transplanting.