Are palm tattoos common for removal? Would it turn out successfully or would it look just as awful afterwards?

Question

I got a small palm tattoo over 4 years ago and of course it looks awful. It's just a slightly dark outline of something. Is it possible and how common is it?

Kory Kitagawa, MD · Answer

Dark ink is the easiest type to remove because it absorbs the light and energy of lasers quite well. The PicoWay laser uses very short bursts of energy to shatter pigment found in tattoos – no matter where on the body they are located. I have had success removing many tattoos on the palm. It will take at least five sessions. A board-certified dermatologist will be able to help you remove your tattoo with PicoWay.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  We have never seen a tattoo on the palm of a hand.  If it already looks awful, it will start looking better as it disappears.  You have 2 routes for laser tattoo removal.Nanosecond lasers came out about 20 years ago.  Picosecond laser came out about 3 years ago.  The majority of former Q-Switch patients we see have significant hypopigmentation (ghosting) around and under their tattoo.  The Q-Switch lasers have trouble differentiating between the melanin in your skin and ink.  The technology uses heat to burn the pigment out of your skin.  In addition, we have seen patients with raised scars as if they have been branded.  Both of these condition are irreversible.  Picosecond lasers (like the Enlighten, PicoWay & PicoSure) fire 1000 times faster, using a pressure wave rather than heat to shear the ink molecules apart.  After using the PicoSure for almost 2 years, we have only seen pinpoint hypopigmentation in a very small number of patients usually of darker skin tones.  We cannot say it is impossible to get burned with a Picosecond laser, but it is highly unlikely.  We tell every PicoSure tattoo patient to expect at least 6 treatments, but don’t be surprised if it takes 10 to 12.  Patience is the key for our patients.  We typically see our tattoo removal patients every 8 to 12 weeks initially.  If they have more time than money, we encourage them to come every 6 months as the tattoos seem to continue to fade while they wait.Treatment prices vary by market.  Your tattoo is extremely large and so will be the cost of removal.  The cost for picosecond treatments will be higher, but you should need less than half the treatments compared to a nanosecond laser.

W.Y. Chung, MD · Answer

We have removed palm tattoos successfully with the PicoSure laser. It did take about 5 sessions for complete removal.

David S. Rosenberg, MD · Answer

i have never treated a tattoo on the palm of the hand but I assume laser tattoo removal should help the ink to fade well. Good luck! DSR

Richard Rosol, MD · Answer

Despite some subtle anatomic differences between palm skin and that of other sites, I treat palm tattoos no differently.  We have equal success with them, and we've removed many without a trace.  If the tattoo is as "slightly dark" as you indicate, I'd encourage you to find yourself an experienced practitioner with a picosecond laser and get his/her ultimate opinion.

Are palm tattoos common for removal? Would it turn out successfully or would it look just as awful afterwards?

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Are palm tattoos common for removal? Would it turn out successfully or would it look just as awful afterwards?

Answers (5)

Answer: Palm tattoo

Answer: Palm tattoo

Answer: Your palm tattoo

Answer: Your palm tattoo

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.