Although Freedom-2 Ink is currently generating the most excitement for instantly removable tattoo inks, not that long ago, it was magnetic ink that seemed to hold this promise. Just a few years ago, a tattoo ink composed of magnetite granules (magnetic iron granules) was developed with the idea that ink could be manipulated or extracted after it was tattooed into the skin. It was thought that a powerful magnet could be used to move the granules around within the skin and to create new designs this way. It was also thought that either with or without a laser treatment, the granules could be pulled right out of the skin.

Using laser tattoo removal with magnetic tattoo ink was actually studied in animals and the results were published in 2002. The magnet had no effect on lightening the tattoo when used by itself. When a q-switched laser was applied first, ink was noted to be pulled into the upper dermis layers with the magnet. This was actuall found to darken rather than lighten the tattoo.

The idea seemed promising and may get resurrected one day when a new complementary technology comes along. In the meantime, magnetic ink does not appear to have delivered on its earlier promises. We’ll have to wait and see if newer high-tech inks, such as Freedom-2, will make good on their promises. For now standard q-switched laser tattoo treatment is the best available choice for fading or removing a tattoo.