By Diamond Crown & Brow LLC.
What is saline tattoo removal?
Saline tattoo removal works by injecting a sterile saline solution under the first layer of the skin. This saline solution bonds to the ink in the tattoo and as the saline rises to the surface of your skin so too does the tattoo ink. This is the process of osmosis where the saline raises the levels of water and salt in your skin to the surface, carrying the ink pigment along with it. This process lightens the pigment of the tattoo gradually over time as ink is drawn to the surface of the skin and exfoliates naturally in the form of a scab.
What should I know about it before I commit to Saline Tattoo Removal?
- Is Saline Tattoo removal Safe?
- Equipment and Solution used for Saline tattoo Removal
- Does Saline tattoo removal hurt?
- Average Cost of Saline Tattoo Removal compared to Laser removal?
- After Care
- Healing process
- Why should I do Saline tattoo removal instead of Laser tattoo removal?
Is Saline Tattoo Removal Safe?
Saline tattoo removal is the safest and healthiest tattoo removal option available. It uses a saline solution composed of all natural and organic oils. Mostly seen in the cosmetic industry for cosmetic tattoo removal saline treatments have recently started to become more popular for regular tattoo removal. Because the saline treatment works on all pigments and all skin types it’s a great option for those with sensitive skin or darker pigments.
Saline tattoo removal treatments do not cause scar tissue so it’s possible to tattoo over the area after the skin has healed from the treatments. This healing process usually takes 6 weeks. During this time a scab will form and after it falls off the skin underneath will look raw and pink. As the area heals that pink tone will disappear and you’ll be left with a noticeably lighter tattoo.
What type of equipement is used?
The equipment used are as follows: needles, tattoo machine, and tattoo ink. Other items used is disposable barriers, gauze, and tattoo ink ring. The needles used are known to 18rL which is bundle of 18 tattoo needles.
A regular tattoo machine can be used for the treatments or you can get disposable units that inject the saline into the skin. With every treatment, more ink is raised and removed from the skin until the tattoo has faded significantly or been removed as far as the naked eye can see. Because saline tattoo removal is so gentle on the skin it’s possible to have multiple removal sessions without causing skin damage. You just have to wait until the area has healed fully before your next removal treatment.
What is in the Saline Solution?
The Saline Solution is a mixture of varies natural essential oils. Which include:
- High salt
- Orange seed extract
- Lemon seed extract
- Aloe Vera
- Sterile Water.
Does it Hurt?
People compare the pain of saline tattoo removal to the pain of getting a tattoo in the first place. It is not a super painful process and you may find that the more treatments you get the less painful it is. There is a numbing cream that you can get that helps relieve the pain of the treatment. When this numbing cream is used in getting the tattoo it can prevent the pigments from sticking properly; however, when it’s used in saline removal treatments it doesn’t impact the process at all so if it’s offered it’s worth using the cream.
For your comfort, a topical anesthetic (lidocaine) is applied to the area to be treated before and during the tattoo removal process.
Afterwards, the area is thoroughly cleansed and bandaged (for body art, bandage can be kept on for a couple hours; for cosmetic tattoo removal, I will send you home with gauze for you to blot the treated area of lymph fluids).
How much does Saline Tattoo Removal cost vs Laser removal?
On average you can expect to pay roughly $100-200 per session depending on the company or technician. Since most companies recommend 4-6 sessions spaced 6 weeks apart you’re looking at $600-$1200 to get your tattoo removed fully. This cost will be broken down over a period of 6-9 months. This makes saline tattoo removal an affordable option for most people.
Laser tattoo removal on the other hand costs $250-$500 per session. This is already more than the cost for an average saline treatment. Add in the fact that most people need 6-8 sessions of laser tattoo removal and you’re looking at a cost of $1500-$4000 for your tattoo to be removed completely. Compare that to the $800-$1200 that saline tattoo removal treatments cost and it is far cheaper to go with saline tattoo removal over laser tattoo removal.
What is the aftercare like for Saline Tattoo Removal?
After you get your saline tattoo removal treatment you’re going to have to wait 6 weeks for the next treatment or your next tattoo in that area. This is how long it takes the treated area to heal fully. Blood might be visible as you’re getting the treatment and after it’s finished so don’t let that alarm you.
-After you leave your session you should wait 30 minutes and then take off any dressing that was applied in order to allow your skin to breathe.
Day 1
During the first day don’t get your skin wet. Wait for the scab to fully form before you let water near that area of your skin.
After that, you can gently clean the scab using a gentle soap, water and a washcloth.
***Be gentle! This scab is a very important part of the procedure and you should refrain from picking it.
Day 2-4
It will take a full day for the scab to start to form .
Day 4-7
The scab holds all of the ink that has been drawn to the surface of your skin and you need to leave it alone so that it can fall off on its own.
Healing Process 4-6 weeks
It’s possible that you might see color around the edges of the tattoo as if the tattoo has bled color into the surrounding skin. Don’t worry if you see this, it’s just color that’s taken a little longer to rise to the surface and didn’t make it into the scab. It can be easily removed during your next session.
**Once the scab is gone you’ll see pink new skin. This will stay pinkish in color until about 4 weeks have gone by.
You can apply a thin layer of Vitamin E cream. Don’t use any other creams especially fast healing creams. You can apply Vitamin E 3 times daily for the first 4 weeks.
**For the next few weeks, the skin is continuing to heal and by 6 weeks your skin will be fully healed and you can get your next treatment or tattoo without any concerns.
How is Saline Removal better than Laser Removal?
Laser tattoo removal has been the go-to form of tattoo removal for a very long time. The longer saline tattoo removal is around for, the more benefits it appears to have when compared to laser tattoo removal.
Clear difference is Process
Saline Tattoo removal removes the tattoo by the process of Osmosis. Laser tattoo removal, on the other hand, works by breaking down the pigments which are then absorbed back into your body. It is then up to your immune system to deal with the ink that’s been broken up. Most people would choose to eliminate the ink as opposed to having it reabsorbed back into their bodies!
4 Big key differences
- For starters, saline tattoo removal is far less painful than laser tattoo removal. For most people, saline removal hurts about the same as the tattoo itself. This means that most people would be willing to try it since they’ve already braved the pain of the tattoo. On the other hand, laser tattoo removal is very painful. So much so in fact that the pain factor alone could deter you from using this method.
- Laser tattoo removal has a difficult time with colored inks, especially reds and purples. If you’re a client who has a colorful tattoo that needs removal you know you’re in for several very painful treatments just to lighten the tattoo. Saline removal is excellent at getting the colored ink pigments lifted from your skin. It does have a little more difficulty with black inks, which laser removal is better at.
- Laser tattoo removal causes significantly more damage to the skin then saline tattoo removal. There is a strong possibility of scarring on top of the treated area which can cause you to be unable to tattoo over that area ever again. You also have the possibility of blistering. The process of laser tattoo removal causes permanent skin damage, which saline does not. Saline treatments are hypoallergenic and natural which makes them gentler on the skin.
- Laser tattoo removal requires more treatments than saline removal. This is because a lot of tattoos have pigments that the laser has a hard time breaking up. Each laser has to be programmed to the correct wavelength of light in order to remove individual colors. White ink cannot be removed at all. The healing time is also longer with laser tattoo removal and more painful.
How often must I go?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee if it will completely remove the ink. There are many factors that play in the complete removal of the tattoo Ink. One must understand this procedure is designed to lighten the tattoo pigments so much that it either the lightens it completely or it will be lightened enough where the body will start to break it down faster.
Typically you want to plan for at least 3 sessions. By the 3rd session one can determine how many more sessions needed.
4 key factors to Consider:
- Type of skin. The type of skin also play a factor because if you are younger the skin can heal quicker compared to the older skin.
- If the tattoo done professionally. How well did the tattoo artist know what he or she was doing? For example professionals know when and how far to break skin to do a good art piece where as an amateur they won’t know how far they go and could potentially push to far down into the skin and tissue.
- Age of the Tattoo. The tattoo age will also determine how well it’s removed. Usually older tattoos will fade because its the body breaking it down so they tend to be a little bit easier to remove.
- The type of ink. Ink matters, For example, in prison the inmate use melted plastic for tattoo ink.
Does it leave a Scar?
Understand that when one gets a tattoo there is already a very light scar which is usually untraceable because its filled in with ink. So when the saline solution is placed into the skin, the skin is being reopened to allow the ink to be pulled to the surface. The scar will be minor to nearly unrecognizable. Many times the outline of the Tattoo will remain but the tattoo will look faded or lightened.
What to expect.
You should begin to see results after your first session of saline tattoo removal; however, it can take several more sessions for your tattoo to be light enough to tattoo over. Most people have fantastic results by the end of their fourth session but some people need upwards of 10 sessions to see the results they desire. There are a large number of factors that come into play when you’re trying to determine how many sessions your saline treatments will take.
After the initial treatment, the skin will appear red, swollen, possibly bruised and look somewhat “beat up” which is normal in the removal process. There will be slight drainage for a short time after the process is completed. The tattoo pigment will be more distinct.
• RESULTS CANNOT BE FORESEEN, PREDICTED, OR GUARANTEED.
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