Additive manufacturing enables the economic production of individual and complex shaped parts. By processing metal powders, selective laser melting offers load-adapted parts with a full freedom of design, high density and excellent mechanical properties comparable to cast parts. Depending on the equipment, accurate three-dimensional parts can be produced on micro and large scale. Due to their outstanding properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties comparable to human bone and low weight, magnesium alloys are an important future material in lightweight construction or for biomedical implants. Processing magnesium alloys by selective laser melting will therefore enable unique possibilities for innovative industrial applications and medical parts. Even though research on selective laser melting of magnesium started in 2009, processing magnesium by SLM® has not established itself in the industry yet. Main reasons may be the low boiling point and the high reactivity of the material. Efforts to use certain magnesium alloys were successful, so the industrialization of the process can be considered, provided that the massive exposition of process emissions can be handled. This contribution offers an overview of the own yet achieved results in processing magnesium alloys by selective laser melting and potential applications especially for biomedical engineering.