Hair Restoration with the Erbium YAG Laser
May 2005
in “
Seminars in Plastic Surgery
”
Erbium YAG laser hair restoration surgery implanted grafts cold steel method thermal damage CO₂ laser scalp compression hair density vaporizing orifices poor growth lack of pigmentation Erbium laser hair transplant grafts cold steel carbon dioxide laser scalp pressure hair thickness vaporizing holes thermal injury poor hair growth no pigmentation
TLDR The Erbium YAG laser is effective in hair restoration, resulting in high yield and density, but it's not recommended for second replacements or those with good-quality hair.
In 2005, a study was conducted on the Erbium YAG laser's effectiveness in hair restoration surgery. The laser resulted in a 90% yield from implanted grafts and 20% higher density than the cold steel method, with 10 times less thermal damage than the CO₂ laser. However, the cold steel method had a slightly better yield. The laser was effective in reducing scalp compression, leading to higher hair density by vaporizing orifices without causing thermal damage. It was not recommended for second replacements or patients with good-quality hair aiming to improve density. Complications were rare, but some cases of poor growth and lack of pigmentation were observed. The study concluded that laser surgery for hair restoration required further research.
