Described herein are methods for delivering live cells into tissue, such as skin or other animal tissue, that has been treated with a laser (e.g. at a minimally coagulating setting) to produce voids/channels/grooves in the tissue. It has been surprisingly discovered that voids having a minimal coagulation zone around the ablation void provide a receptive environment into which live cells are readily delivered (without the need for injections into the target tissue) and can therefore survive and persist.
