Once the thickening is done the slave branch can be removed or trimmed back.
Wild and untrimmed growth to thicken this branch on a Ficus natalensis/thonningii complex bonsai
The branch has been shortened back once it has the proper thickness but needs secondary and tertiary branches to be developed
The branch thus thickened, as in this case, now has a proper thickness but will need more work to ramify it and develop secondary and tertiary branches. This can be done with repeated nipping out of buds and defoliation techniques.
Aerial roots are kept on this branch as they speed branch thickening