Is it possible to remove a tattoo by injecting normal saline under the skin at ink depth? (sterile procedure of course)

Can saline be used to remove a tattoo?

Answers from doctors (4)


No, saline should not be injected as a means of tattoo removal. The ink is meant to be permanent and molecules need to be broken up for your body to absorb and remove the ink. The gold standard of tattoo removal is laser therapy. It has been studied and is considered the most effective removal method when compared to other techniques.

Answered by Clean Slate Tattoo Removal at Vein Specialties (View Profile)

No, saline should not be injected as a means of tattoo removal. The ink is meant to be permanent and molecules need to be broken up for your body to absorb and remove the ink. The gold standard of tattoo removal is laser therapy. It has been studied and is considered the most effective removal method when compared to other techniques.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Brooklyn Laser Tattoo Removal, Inc.

Published on Feb 24, 2016

The only FDA approved method of tattoo removal is with lasers. Other methods have much higher risks of scarring. Laser tattoo removal may take a bit longer, but your skin will be with you for a lifetime. Please choose someone who is specially trained, whether a M.D. or not. We have heard horror stories about tattoo artists using a “special solution to pull the ink out” or using self-applied acid--and we've seen the disastrous results. If the place is not certified to remove tattoos with appropriate lasers and does not offer pain reduction of any kind, it's a clue all they want is to get people in and out as fast as possible. We have 5 or 6 pain reduction methods we use and have training in laser tattoo removal. Before choosing a specialist, ask where he or she was trained and ask if blistering is part of the process. Some people prefer to blister because the belief is that the ink will be removed faster, but it can result in scarring, especially if the person picks the blister.

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Answered by Brooklyn Laser Tattoo Removal, Inc.

The only FDA approved method of tattoo removal is with lasers. Other methods have much higher risks of scarring. Laser tattoo removal may take a bit longer, but your skin will be with you for a lifetime. Please choose someone who is specially trained, whether a M.D. or not. We have heard horror stories about tattoo artists using a “special solution to pull the ink out” or using self-applied acid--and we've seen the disastrous results. If the place is not certified to remove tattoos with appropriate lasers and does not offer pain reduction of any kind, it's a clue all they want is to get people in and out as fast as possible. We have 5 or 6 pain reduction methods we use and have training in laser tattoo removal. Before choosing a specialist, ask where he or she was trained and ask if blistering is part of the process. Some people prefer to blister because the belief is that the ink will be removed faster, but it can result in scarring, especially if the person picks the blister.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Change of Art Laser Tattoo Removal

Published on Dec 05, 2012

Yes, saline injections are a procedure being used. It takes multiple sessions to clear the ink. I have one client who had the saline injections, and she has a lot of hypo-pigmenting in the treated area. Her tattoo was the first I have seen that had the saline treatments. She came to me for laser treatments to clear the remaining ink. I recommend that you do more research on the procedure and talk to some professionals who are actually performing these procedures.

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Answered by Change of Art Laser Tattoo Removal

Yes, saline injections are a procedure being used. It takes multiple sessions to clear the ink. I have one client who had the saline injections, and she has a lot of hypo-pigmenting in the treated area. Her tattoo was the first I have seen that had the saline treatments. She came to me for laser treatments to clear the remaining ink. I recommend that you do more research on the procedure and talk to some professionals who are actually performing these procedures.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Laser Treatment Center

Published on Dec 05, 2012

I have not done this in the past and am not familiar with this type of procedure to remove a tattoo.

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Answered by Laser Treatment Center

I have not done this in the past and am not familiar with this type of procedure to remove a tattoo.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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