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• FDA APPROVED HAIR TRANSPLANT LASER

• HairSite Editorial - 3/28/98

• Laser Industries Ltd. (1/21/97 press release)

• David Tse   HairSite@aol.com

FDA gave clearance to SilkTouch - the first ever laser machine specifically designed for hair transplantation. SilkTouch will be distributed by Sharplan Lasers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Laser Industries Ltd. Laser Industries Ltd. is a public company traded on the NASDAQ.

According to a press release issued by Laser Industries, this is a significant development for the ever expanding demand for hair transplantation. Statistics has shown that about 40% of men suffers from male pattern baldness by the age of 35 and hair transplantation is the most common form of plastic surgery for men.

At the January 97 meeting of the American Society of Hair Restoration, data showing the safety and consistency of the SilkTouch laser was presented by the Director of Dermatopathology at Stanford University. According to Dr. Smithdeal who assessed 240-laser drilled sites in various scalp-tissue specimens, SilkTouch laser delivers a consistent size and depth of openings in scalp tissue without causing significant heat damage to the surrounding tissue. Also discussed in the meeting was an earlier presented to the FDA by Laser Industries involving 69 hair transplantation patietns. The report showed that successful hair regrowth began on average nine weeks following the laser assisted hair transplantation. This is significant improvement compared to the conventional hair transplantation methods.

According to Dr. Smithdeal, conventional hair trasplantation techniques involve puncturing the skin manually with a surgical scalpel or knife. On the other hand, the SilkTouch delivers precise and highly focused laser beam that cleanly creates holes small enough to transplant a single hair. Bleeding is significantly reduced as well as procedure time, patient discomfort and swelling etc. Dr. Smithdeal further added that laser assisted technique can also produce more natural and smooth results.

Although SilkTouch laser has been approved by the FDA for over a year, there does not seem to be any substantial increase in surgeons employing laser in their procedures. As of April 98, there are only a handful of surgeons who specialize in laser assisted hair transplantation techniques.