The Sunetics Advanced Laser Therapy System looks like something right out of "Star Trek." But 52-year-old Geoff Fowler doesn't mind. He just wants the hair on the back of his head to come back.

"I feel self-conscious about it because people when they talk to me … their eyes wander up," he said.

"Certainly no adverse affect from it, no heat or anything like that, but a little tingling is normal," said Dr. James Harris, Hair Sciences Center/Denver.

You may remember the Laser Comb. It was a consumer sensation despite a $400 to $700 price tag, and some drawbacks.

"I've had some patients complain that using the comb gets a little tedious for 20 minutes at a time-- your arm gets tired-- so you tend not to do the 20 minutes," said Harris.

This new machine is about 10 times more powerful than the comb.

"The laser combs have either 5-10 small laser diodes-- where this in-house unit has 107," said Harris.

Not all doctors are convinced of its effectiveness.

"People have been trying to treat baldness literally for centuries and there have been thousands and thousands of devices and creams and lotions and potions that come out to treat hair loss and some of them don't work very well and some of them end up being dangerous," said Dr. Michael Maloney.

But for those who want to try avoid hair transplant surgery, the laser is attractive. The initial treatment costs around $4,000.

After about a year, booster sessions are recommended every three months.