Remove Your Tattoo is a specialist laser tattoo removal clinic with a Wellington-area location at 17 Marina View, Paremata, part of a small New Zealand network also covering Palmerston North, New Plymouth and North Canterbury. The clinic's technicians, Rachael Steele and Michele Lint, are qualified Laser Tattoo Removal Technicians who focus solely on laser tattoo removal rather than offering it alongside unrelated beauty services.
Rachael combines her laser qualification with a Bachelor in Health Science and training as a Naturopath, bringing a particular interest in how overall body health affects treatment outcomes. Michele, also a qualified Beauty Therapist, focuses closely on client education around aftercare and healing, alongside the laser treatment itself.
The clinic offers a free 15-minute initial consultation to assess a tattoo and determine the right treatment plan, with ongoing appointments typically running 15 to 20 minutes. Beyond tattoo removal and fading for cover-up redesigns, the clinic also offers Carbon Facial treatments, Microdermal Needling, and gift vouchers for those wanting to give tattoo removal as a gift.
At 17 Marina View in Paremata, part of Porirua's wider Wellington region, Remove Your Tattoo operates as exactly what its name suggests — a clinic that specialises solely in laser tattoo removal, rather than treating it as a side offering among a broader beauty menu.
The clinic is run by Rachael Steele and Michele Lint, both qualified Laser Tattoo Removal Technicians. Rachael also holds a Bachelor in Health Science and is a qualified Naturopath, bringing a particular focus on how a client's general health affects how well their body responds to treatment. Michele, also a qualified Beauty Therapist, places strong emphasis on client education around aftercare, treating the healing process as just as important as the laser session itself.
Before any treatment begins, Remove Your Tattoo offers a free 15-minute initial consultation to assess a tattoo and map out a treatment plan. Clients can book this online, submit an enquiry form with a photo of their tattoo for an early evaluation, or simply call the clinic directly. Ongoing treatment appointments typically run 15 to 20 minutes, and for small tattoos, actual laser time can be under 3 minutes per session.
A lot of hesitation around laser tattoo removal comes down to outdated or incorrect information, and the clinic addresses several common myths directly. Contrary to popular belief, black ink is actually one of the easiest colours to remove, since it absorbs laser light across all wavelengths and tends to have fewer additives than other colours. Scarring is also far less likely than many assume — when performed by a trained professional following proper protocols and aftercare, the risk is slim to none, with normal side effects like blistering or scabbing needing to heal naturally rather than being picked at.
The clinic is also clear that tattoo removal creams, despite their appeal as a low-effort option, simply can't reach ink sitting deep in the skin's dermis layer the way a laser can — creams work more by bleaching or peeling the surface, without truly removing the tattoo.
Not every client wants full removal. Remove Your Tattoo also works with tattoo and cosmetic tattoo artists to fade existing ink to a point where it can be redesigned or covered up — sometimes needing only 2-3 sessions to fade enough for a new design to begin, though full healing from laser treatment is recommended before that next step, typically taking 8 to 12 weeks.
Most clients need somewhere between 6 and 12 treatments to reach their desired result, whether that's full removal or enough fading for a cover-up. How many sessions are needed depends on factors like the ink's ingredients, how many layers the tattoo has, individual healing response, and whether the tattoo was done by a professional or done at home. Sessions are generally spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart, with the body continuing to fade the tattoo for months after even a single treatment.
As for discomfort, the clinic is upfront: most clients describe the sensation as a hot, burny flick, and topical anaesthetic is available for anyone who needs it.
Alongside its core laser removal service, the clinic also offers Carbon Facial treatments and Microdermal Needling, plus gift vouchers for anyone wanting to give the gift of tattoo removal or skin treatment to someone else.
For anyone in the Porirua and wider Wellington area rethinking an old tattoo, or looking to fade one down for a fresh redesign, Remove Your Tattoo's specialist focus, qualified technicians, and free no-obligation consultation make it a straightforward first call before committing to a removal programme.