Bindi Tattoo on Forehead: Success with Modified R-20 Technique Using Low Fluence Q-Switched Nd Yag Laser: A Case Report
A 26-year-old female consulted us for removal of a green-blue bindi tattoo done on her forehead in childhood as a family ritual. After counselling, we treated her with a low-fluence Q-switched Nd YAG Laser (LFQSNYL), a machine recommended for tattoo removal. We used 1064 mode with the parameters 450 mj, every 4 weeks, spot size of 1.5 mm, pulse width 6 ns and repetition rate of 2 Hz on all the sittings. However, after eight sessions of LFQSNYL, there was no appreciable improvement []. We and the patient were disappointed. As the patient was committed, we decided to try a new R20 technique, that is repetition after 20 minutes in the same sitting. We were not sure about the results and side effects such as scarring and dyspigmentation. We administered only one additional treatment after 20 minutes, using the same parameters as earlier []. There was transient oedema, erythema and punctuate bleeding, which was symptomatically managed. She attended follow up after 4 months having received no treatment in the meantime. We were pleasantly surprised to see significant shrinkage of the size and lightening of her tattoo with only a single session of R-20 modality [].