Just a short time ago, Shanti Benoit Boyce and Heather Grods were working together for a doctor in Seattle. Both of them lived some distance away – Shanti in Gig Harbor and Heather in Lacey – “We were commuting three hours a day,” said Shanti. “We started daydreaming: What if there could be a better way?” Both ladies are Nurse Practitioners and highly specialized in aesthetic medicine. After years of running that grind up to Seattle, they opened their own business in University Place. It was the end of April 2023. Northwest Medical Arts was born. 

 

“My first job out of nursing school was working for an oculoplastic specialist,” Shanti shared. “I always say how thankful I feel that that was my foundation, because not only was he an amazing surgeon, but he was also an artist and you could see that in his work. We’re here to help people feel their best self, not changing what they look like, but helping them feel like they’re in their best skin,” said Shanti. “Looking their best, feeling their best, so that they can put their best foot forward.” It’s part of her mission to change the stereotypes and stigma associated with aesthetic medicine. “Some people think that if you’re doing something for yourself, then you’re selfish and vain, but on the contrary, it’s impactful and powerful, and then you go out and impact others. We never know the ripple effect of that.” 

 
Together, Shanti and Heather have over 17 years of experience in the industry. This is important when shopping around for a trustworthy aesthetic medicine practitioner, as many have capitalized on the increasing popularity of the field and gone through no more than a quick crash course before turning around and working on clients. “People are getting burned and hurt,” Heather said with concern. Not to mention that a lot of those with less experience are unfamiliar with the best procedures, the best techniques, and the best equipment. “I’ve worked with most of the major devices out on the market,” Shanti explained. “Everything we have here is top of the line, the latest and greatest, and what we know to be proven.”  

 

Another thing that sets NW Medical Arts apart is that they aren’t going to sell you something you don’t need. They will take the time to meet with you for a consultation and give you the knowledge you need so that you can make the best decision for yourself. “There is no high-pressure sales. We describe the aging process, what’s happening physiologically, what the options are, etc. I want you to make your most informed decision,” said Heather. A lot of what people associate with aesthetic medicine, such as Botox and fillers, is what they’ve seen in the media. That’s usually only the most dramatic cases – and the biggest fails. “They think…it looks weird or fake; but they only know the people who are overdone or not done well [not] the people that look normal.” Shanti’s immediate family, she says, never even notices when she’s had a treatment. “I’m not changing how I [or you] look.” As we age, our skin naturally changes. “We restore what used to be there. It looks like you got a good night’s sleep. It looks like you feel rested.” 

 

NW Medical Arts has a wide range of offerings, from injectables to IV infusion therapies to facials, hair removal, and microneedling. “We have a master esthetician that can do facials and laser treatments and a great team that help up front." And then there is Shanti and Heather, with their lengthy experience. You can visit NW Medical Arts at nwmedicalarts.com or call them at (253) 352-0882 to make an appointment. NW Medical Arts is located at 5350 Orchard St W, University Place, WA 98467.