Saline infusion

Saline infusion

Health risk	Moderate
Legal risk	Moderate

Saline infusion, also known as saline injection, is the injection of saline into the body. Saline injection can temporarily change the size and shape of a body part, most often the scrotum, for erotic purposes.

Appeal

Unlike silicone injection, the effects are temporary (lasting only a few days), and there is a significantly reduced risk of serious complications, especially if proper sterile technique is used.

Risks

The main risks of saline infusion are infection and physical injury. Physical injuries can result from the needle and other tools, such as a cock ring.

Infection

There is a risk of infection, especially if sterile saline is not used. Sharing equipment can lead to the spread of blood-borne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis C. The process of injecting saline can cause skin infections such as cellulitis and a staph infection.

Physical Injury

The dangers of physical injury from the needle vary by body part.

Cock rings can be used to keep more saline in the genitals, but there is a risk of the ring becoming stuck. Rigid cock rings, such as a metal ring with no hinge, should not be used.

Risk mitigation

Do not reuse needles, saline, or any other equipment. Properly sterilizing equipment and the skin near the injection site reduces the risk of infection.

Use a cock ring that can be easily removed by undoing snaps or some other mechanism; do not use cock rings that are rigid.

Known incidents

In 2022, a Twitter user posted a video of medical professionals using an angle grinder and bolt cutters to remove a metal cock ring after saline injection.