Tattoo Removal (Left Forearm)

Treatment details: Tattoo Removal (Left Forearm)

The forearm was treated with picosecond laser at settings matched to the ink density present. This site clears at a moderate pace, faster than the ankle but slower than areas closer to the trunk, because lymphatic drainage determines how quickly fragmented pigment is carried away. The photograph is six weeks after the session shown, which is around the point at which fading from one treatment has finished and the next can be planned. Skin texture in the treated area has remained smooth. Sessions are spaced deliberately rather than shortened, since treating again too early raises the risk of scarring without improving clearance.

Ink on the forearm sits far from the center of the body and tends to clear more slowly than tattoos on the trunk, so more sessions are usually required and faint shading can persist. After each treatment the area stings, reddens and swells for a day or two, and blistering or crusting may follow. Pigment in the treated skin can lighten or darken for several months. The forearm is exposed to daylight, so sunscreen and covering are needed between sessions to limit marking.