A large black tattoo on the upper arm, forearm reached 75% fading after 5 sessions at Removery. Total cost: $4,230.
Before (session 0) and after (session 5) at Removery.
The tattoo
A large black tattoo on the upper arm, forearm on Type V skin (brown, rarely burns), less than 1 year old when treatment began.
Fitzpatrick Type V requires conservative energy settings; the gap between effective treatment and permanent pigmentation change is narrower than on lighter skin.
The forearm drains adequately but sits further from the major lymph nodes of the torso.
Fresh tattoos start at full ink density with no prior fading, so the laser encounters them at their heaviest point.
Timeline
5 sessions over years.
Sessions were spaced 3-4 months apart.
Cost
Removery: $4,230 across 5 sessions works out to $846 per session.
Reputable providers typically charge $350 to $700 per session; at $846, this is above the standard range, likely reflecting the size or complexity of the case.
The laser
Removery treated this case with the Picoway, a picosecond platform.
For black ink, it operates at 1064 nm with a pulse duration of 240 - 450 ps.
Mike from GO describes PicoWay as a monster on black ink, and it is his personal choice for black ink removal.
This platform is rated safe for Type V skin, which is relevant given the tighter margin between effective treatment and permanent pigmentation change on darker skin types.
Bottom line
Type V skin requires longer recovery between sessions and conservative energy settings to avoid permanent pigmentation changes. That makes provider selection especially important.
The last 5 to 10 percent of clearance is consistently the hardest phase: residual ink sits deepest, immune response slows, and the composition of what remains is unknown.
Similar cases in the gallery: Black Forearm Half Sleeve on Type IV Skin: 75% Fading After 9 Sessions at Removery — Black Tattoo on the Forearm After 1 Session: Minimal Visible Change So Far (75% Fading)