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Saline tattoo removal, when done by a trained and experienced technician is considered the safest tattoo lightening and removal technique. Saline can be done on any skin tone and on any tattoo color. This is not the case with many laser removals which cannot remove specific inks and can cause painful blistering if attempted. Furthermore, a laser can cause hypo or hyperpigmentation for those with more melanin in the skin as it is an aggressive service. Other non-laser methods may use acids that can also cause skin trauma.
Saline removal finds the ink molecules in the skin and naturally pulls as many of them as possible in a session through the semi-permeable skin cell up to the surface of the skin. Over the course of several sessions, the inked area becomes lighter and lighter. The saturation and age of the tattoo will dictate the number of sessions (and the amount of patience) required. It is, however, highly effective, and more affordable than laser. Saline removal can be done on permanent makeup and conventional body art. It is, however, limited to smaller tattooed areas. For body art, many clients seek lightening as good tattoo artists want to highlight their work and not have an old tattoo interfere with it. For permanent makeup, if you have a color or shape you do not like, saline helps to remove enough ink to correct the work. A consultation with a technician will help determine candidacy for this treatment.
Proper care before the procedure is essential in order for your brows to heal properly. The instructions below help minimize discomfort and bleeding and promote optimal pigment retention. Please be aware you are likely to experience more discomfort during your menstrual cycle.
No alcohol at LEAST 24 hours before the procedure
No caffeine at LEAST 24 hours before the procedure
No spicy food on the day of
No exercise on the day of the procedure. This increases your blood flow, which increases bleeding, leading to poor pigment retention.
No tanning booths or excessive sun exposure two weeks prior.
No plucking, threading, waxing or tinting at least one week prior.
No Botox, Restylane, Kybella, Voluma, Juvederm, Sculptra, or other fillers for at least two weeks prior to your scheduled appointment. Failure to follow this can lead to uneven or misplaced brows.
No blood thinners 48 hours before the procedure. This includes Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Niacin, fish oil supplements and vitamin E. Tylenol is OK.
No skin care treatments two weeks minimum prior to the procedure that includes vitamin A or Retinol. This includes lotions, creams, serums, Microdermabrasion, electrolysis, Retin-A, laser or chemical peels, alpha hydroxy acid, or any treatments that promote skin brightening. Failure to comply will result in poor pigment retention or even scarred skin.
No nutritional shakes or hair, skin or nail supplements 48 hours prior.
Post-procedure care is just as crucial as pre-procedure care. We ask that you carefully follow the guidelines below for the first seven to ten days after your procedure. These steps help to ensure safe and timely healing that will promote the best results. Failure to follow the instructions below can negatively impact healing and pigment retention.
Do not scratch, rub or pick at the treated area. Scabs should fall off on their own during the first seven to ten days. If you pick the scabs off, you risk possible scarring and less than desirable results.
Gently wash your brows twice a day using an unscented gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil or Cerave. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water before touching the brow area. Remember, these tiny wounds must be kept clean to prevent infection and promote proper healing.
Once you wash your brows, gently pat dry with clean un-woven gauze or a paper towel.
Using a clean Q-tip for each side, apply a very thin layer of the aftercare balm you were provided in your aftercare kit.
NO tanning booths or excessive sun exposure for four weeks following the procedure. Failure to comply with this can lead to premature fading, pigment color change, hyperpigmentation or scarring.
No skin care treatments four weeks after the procedure that contain vitamin A or Retinol. This includes lotions, creams, serums, Microdermabrasion, electrolysis, Retin-A, laser or chemical peels, alpha hydroxy acid, or any treatments that promote skin brightening. Topical anti-aging products and skin brightening treatments (Retinol, AHAs, etc) should be avoided in the brow and forehead area on-going or can cause pre-mature fading with a possibility for undesirable colors.
NO submerging your face for the first two weeks. This includes the pool, ocean, steam room and hot showers. Excess moisture is NOT your friend.
Avoid skin care products (aside from what is in your aftercare kit), including makeup, on or directly around the treated area for the first seven to ten days. After the flaking is done you can protect yourself with SPF & wear gentle makeup if desired. You will want to avoid anti-aging products around the treated area not just before and right after but on-going to keep your brows from prematurely fading.
Use SPF when directly exposed to the sun otherwise, this will cause premature, possibly uneven fading.
You will go through many phases of the healing process. At first, your brows will appear very dark and bold for the first couple of days, aka “brow shock”, that will shrink and lighten about 30-40% when healed. After the initial brow shock, the flaking will start (around day 3-5) and you will be tempted to pick or scratch but that’s a HUGE no-no! Causing premature fading, poor pigment retention, etc, it is imperative to let the flaking take its course naturally. After they are done flaking you will notice that the color appears MUCH lighter if not gone, but don’t fret, the fresh skin forming over the pigment will lighten the color. Once everything is settled, the color will come back to the surface, and some spots may need perfecting. This is why we always schedule a six to ten-week touch-up.
Trust the healing process!
