The first surgeons to use a laser in hair transplanting were Dr. Walter Unger and Dr. Larry David, working together in Los Angeles in September 1993. The first medical article on laser transplanting was published by Dr. Unger in 1994.⁽¹¹⁾ 

After five years of trying different lasers and techniques, Dr. Unger concluded that superior cosmetic results could not be consistently expected, and there were some significant disadvantages associated with it. Despite advertisements and media reports that suggest laser transplanting produces superior results with less bleeding and pain, there is, in fact, no laser currently available that will produce these advantages, and less hair may grow in some patients. As a result, Dr. Unger has, for the time being, stopped doing laser hair transplants.

Laser manufacturers are still working on producing a more satisfactory machine.