2 Weeks After Laser Tattoo Removal and Still Swollen?

I had my third laser session on my ankle 2 weeks ago and am still experiencing swelling. I had blistering but now the area is just bloody. On my first two sessions I did not blister. Is this normal? Thanks.

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ankles swollen 2 weeks post-op

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Ginger LaBreche in Houston, Texas

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Tattoo treatment and side effects

Healing time is much slower on the lower leg, but I would suggest you have a doctor look at this area and make sure it is not infected. Take care, Dr. Groff

Tattoo removal recovery...

Healing time is generally three weeks, but will vary for each patient. The skin is extremely sensitive after the treatment, and this could possibly last for longer than 3 weeks. This can be especially true for the skin of the lower legs. Healing of the lower legs is not as good or quick as other areas of the body because of the dependent position. After a tattoo removal, your body's immune system begins to repair the damaged skin, and further breaks down and removes... more

Lower limbs take longer to heal with laser tattoo removal.

Lasering the lower limbs can be more painful than other areas, and because these areas are "dependent" and further from the heart, they take longer to drain away the shattered tattoo ink. Make sure that you do not treat in a full circle along any limb as it is possible that it can swell in a circle and cut off the blood supply to that limb leading to amputation. Blistering and swelling doesn't necessarily mean that anything was done incorrectly or wrong. Make sure to... more

Swelling can occur

I would recommend you direct your question to the person who treated you as they know your situation better. Hopefully it is a physician's office as rarely there are complications that will require the expertise of a physician to evaluate. That being said, it is possible to have swelling after laser tattoo removal and that can occur especially on the legs. Ice and elevation should help but do call the person who treated you so they can take a look and make sure there is no infection or other... more