When Ruth and Dr. Dave Arthurs, founders of Hawaii MedSpa, visited the Big Island twenty years ago on a second honeymoon, they didn’t know it would become their next home. Back in Idaho, their lives flourished. Surrounded by mountains, Dr. Arthurs had a successful medical practice, and Ruth thrived, home-schooling their three children and working as a marriage and family counselor. Ironically, they ended up on the Big Island with a medical practice.
Ruth grew up in Pennsylvania with Christian values and a strong faith background. Her father, who believed in women being educated, told her she had to become a teacher or a nurse. She chose nursing, but after watching a medical film that was too visual for her taste, she changed her mind and became a teacher.
As a young man, Dave struggled to make his career choice. A friend recommended pursuing conventional medicine because she knew how much Dave enjoyed helping people. Yet, Dave grappled with this idea because he grew up believing in holistic medicine. At the time, Dave didn’t even have a pill in his home, not even an aspirin – something Ruth, unfortunately, discovered upon their return from a motorcycle trip to Tijuana, Mexico, with the miserable symptoms of Montezuma's revenge, otherwise known as traveler’s diarrhea.
Dave discovered a suitable compromise. He became a doctor of osteopathic medicine, a combination of conventional medical techniques with holistic health in which a person’s mind, body, and emotions are all considered for treatment. This education led to a successful medical practice and a fruitful life in idyllic Idaho, where the family enjoyed camping, horseback riding, and skiing.
Upon moving to the Big Island, Ruth and Dr. Arthurs could have retired early, but he wanted to continue helping people. Ruth recalls, “We basically started from scratch, all over again, and that was a little hard because we had no idea what the environment would be like for business.” Dr. Arthurs wisely recruited Ruth to help him, but she resisted working in the medical field, reminding her husband that she was “not a nurse!” However, his persuasion worked, and together, they created the Hawaii Family Physicians: Comprehensive Care for the Whole Family, a well-established, burgeoning practice.
Dr. Arthurs cares deeply for his patients. He says, “I wanted to offer more.” His concern for people motivated him to continue learning, resulting in becoming trained to offer Botox injections and other cosmetic esthetic type of treatments for improving people’s appearance, which can boost self-confidence.
Over the years, while living in Hawai’i, both Ruth and Dr. Arthurs valued the people comprising their local community. They consider them ‘ohana. For this reason, they volunteered with several organizations, including their church and a global interdenominational mission movement, by offering their medical services and expertise. Helping others, a motivational drive they both share, led to their newest venture.
Reflecting on their lives, Dr. Arthurs and Ruth asked themselves, “How can people be strong and have the ability, mobility, energy, and capacity to still enjoy life in their 60s, 70s, and older?” Dr. Arthurs learned about new medical equipment from BTL Aesthetics that is safe and effective for treating various conditions for all ages. These new devices use electromagnetic energy to create muscle contractions. He explains, “You get approximately 20,000 contractions in a 30-minute treatment period.”
“It’s a way to give quality of life,” Ruth says. “It’s been amazing for me.” She receives treatment and has noticed a positive difference. Every year, they go back to the mainland to ski. She shares, “I could ski from the top to the bottom without stopping. I had never done that as a 20, 40, or 50-year-old. It only happened when I got a stronger core because of these machines.”
Dr. Arthurs says, “It’s really rewarding to see the results and help people, particularly with urinary incontinence.” A person’s pelvic floor can be strengthened because the machines do the kegel muscle exercises for you. This can lead to a more robust pelvic floor quicker than if a person had only exercised alone.
Ruth says, “Being able to sleep all through the night and not have to get up three or four times has been life-changing for me and many others.”
These machines are not just for older people. They can help athletes perform better and benefit the average person wanting to stay in shape. Also, these devices can help repair injuries, such as lower back pain. Ruth described how she once had difficulty picking up her grandchildren before the treatments, but now she lifts them quickly.
Hawaii MedSpa is the name of their new business, located in Kailua-Kona. It is integrated into their current practice to offer comprehensive care to their patients. Ruth and Dr. Arthurs see this as an opportunity to provide people with quality life for years. They are excited about the possibilities these treatments can provide. “It’s a way to make a change for people, and it is an investment,” Ruth says.
Learn more at Hawaii-MedSpa.com.
Are you desperately trying to lose weight, build muscle, or heal from an injury? Hawaii MedSpa, located in Kailua-Kona, offers various services using equipment and technology from BTL Aesthetics: EmSculpt Neo, EmTone, and Emsella.
All three devices are available for your use. EmSculpt Neo is a non-invasive device that targets eliminating the fat cells and helps to build muscle. EmTone is a device that treats cellulite and factors contributing to cellulite using thermal and mechanical energy.
Emsella is a device that uses High Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Therapy Technology (HIFEM) to cause pelvic floor muscle contractions, which treats male and female urinary incontinence. It also treats sexual health concerns. This technology is revolutionary, offering non-invasive treatments.
It’s a way to give quality of life.
It’s a way to make a change for people, and it is an investment.