Saline Removal
When laser isn't the right tool.
Saline removal is a manual technique we offer as a second-line option, most often for permanent makeup pigments that don't respond to laser. We always recommend trying laser first.
What saline removal is
Manual removal, not laser.
Saline removal goes by many names. You may have heard it called osmotic removal, chemical removal, glycolic acid removal, or hypertonic saline. There are also brand-name products that fall under this same umbrella. The technique is the same regardless of the brand.
A tattoo machine deposits a saline-based solution into the skin, where the existing pigment lives. The pigment binds to the saline. The body recognizes the solution as a foreign substance and rejects it, taking the pigment along with it.
Our approach
Laser first. Always.
Studio Kiku is, first and foremost, a laser studio. The PicoWay is faster, less damaging to the skin, and more cost-effective than saline for the vast majority of clients. We don't advertise saline as a primary service or a casual option, because for most people, it shouldn't be one.
We offer saline removal only after laser removal has been attempted and the pigment isn't responding. At that point, when there's no realistic path forward with laser, saline becomes the right call, and we'd rather do it carefully ourselves than send you somewhere that doesn't know your case.
When saline makes sense
The right cases for saline.
Resistant pigment colours
Some PMU pigments contain titanium dioxide, iron oxide, or specific yellows that the laser can't fully break down. Saline can lift what laser leaves behind.
After laser plateaus
When a laser session shows the pigment has stopped responding, saline is sometimes the only remaining option for further fading.
Medical or skin-type contraindications
Active Accutane use, gold-injection treatments, or very dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick 5–6) can make laser inadvisable. Saline can be a safer alternative in these cases.
When laser isn't an option for you
Some clients prefer not to use laser for personal reasons. Saline gives them another path forward, with realistic expectations about trade-offs.
Saline on permanent makeup brows
Honest about the trade-offs
What you should know before you book.
Saline can work, but it asks more of your skin than laser does. We'd rather you have the full picture before deciding.
Skin trauma is unavoidable
Saline is applied with a tattoo machine, which opens the skin. Scabbing may happen. Done too aggressively, it can cause scarring or change skin texture.
Aftercare is critical
Because the skin is open during the procedure, strict aftercare is non-negotiable.
Longer healing windows
Plan for 1–3 months of healing before results can be evaluated. You'll have downtime after each session, and the area can look worse before it looks better.
Results aren't guaranteed
Saline can work very well, or not at all. There's no way to guarantee what will happen on a particular pigment in a particular skin.
When it works, it works
For the right pigment in the right skin, saline can clear what laser couldn't. That's exactly why we offer it as a second-line option.
Saline Removal FAQs
The questions clients ask before deciding between laser and saline.
Not sure which is right for you?
Book a free consultation. We'll review your situation, recommend a laser test spot when it makes sense, and only consider saline if the laser isn't doing the job.
Book a Free Consultation