We examine thermal effect of a 2.1 tm Holmium laser on the internal stress and shape of cartilage. For 2.1 microns radiation, the absorption depth is more by an order of magnitude than that, for 10 jim radiation. We have studied the influence of laser intensity, pulse duration, pulse repetition rate, and of cartilage thickness on its shaping conditions. Spatial and temporal locality of Ho laser radiation as well as the bulk character of the heating allow to produce the stress relaxation without overheating of the surface irradiated and to prevent undesirable effects of tissue carbomsation and destruction.

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