Take a look at our September newsletter!
The
3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
SEPTEMBER 2025
So, how do I do that? Well, these days, I let my cellphone lead the way. I use an app called Daily 6 Things.
6 STEPS STRONGER
As its name suggests, it is designed to help users boost productivity by focusing on six critical daily tasks. At the end of each day, I list six things I want to accomplish the following day. I follow the list strictly, prioritize the six tasks in order of importance, and don’t move on to a new task unless I’ve completed the previous one. If I look at that list at the end of the day and see that I got three out of the six items done, I can determine whether the incomplete tasks need to be moved to the priority list for the next day, delegated, or deferred. No matter what, I end every day with six tasks to begin tackling in the morning. The app is based on principles devised by a fascinating man named Ivy Lee. In addition to being a maverick in the public relations field, Lee gained acclaim in the early 1900s for his skills at improving companies’ efficiencies. In 1918, Charles Schwab, president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation and one of the world’s wealthiest people at the time, hired him as a consultant to help his staff increase their productivity.
September’s Self-Improvement Spark
Lee requested 15 minutes with each of Charles Schwab’s most critical administrative people.
He went around and had 15-minute appointments with all these people and shared his six-point method with them. When Lee was finished, Schwab asked him what he owed him for his time.
“Nothing,” he replied. “Wait three months, look at your productivity, and pay me at that point what you think it’s worth.”
Whenever I lack motivation or need to remind myself to work to be the best person possible, all it takes to get me back on track is to look at my children.
Charles Schwab was so thrilled at his team’s increased productivity that he gave Lee a check for $25,000, equivalent to about $500,000 in today’s money. Although we don’t need to make half a million dollars for a day’s work to consider ourselves successful, Lee’s method works beautifully, as does the app created to honor the principles he crafted.
September is Self-Improvement Month, which can mean different things to different people. For some, self-improvement means mastering their spiritual lives, while others use it to climb the corporate ladder and strengthen themselves financially. For my son and daughter, it means working hard to thrive in their chosen fields. Alecia (Alexandra) is in grad school at Notre Dame and participating in a five-year Ph.D. program. She strives to improve her baseline knowledge and has succeeded despite an increasingly demanding schedule. Meanwhile, Nicholas is returning to school to study aeronautical engineering after finishing his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering. Their perseverance is astounding and never fails to inspire me to get the best out of myself.
Whether you’re hoping to lose weight, earn enough money to buy your dream home, earn degrees, or prioritize your mental health, I wish you much success in accomplishing your self-improvement goals in September and every month. May you always stay six steps ahead of your past self.
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HOW BOUNTIFUL BEARDS BECAME VICTORIAN AIR PURIFIERS Step aside, antibiotics! In the smog-choked streets of 1850s London, where chimney smoke clung to every surface and a “fog” could linger for months, doctors championed a fuzzy solution. The prescription? Grow a beard. Not just any beard, but big, bushy, chest-brushing beards that could rival a lion’s mane. Their advice made it seem like thick, woolly beards were a frontline defense against disease. As London’s population surged past the one million mark in the mid-1800s, so did its coal consumption. Residents warmed their homes and powered the city with coal, releasing dense plumes of smoke that clung to the damp air. These weren’t your average winter mists. In 1873, one thick smog event blanketed the city, contributing to hundreds of bronchitis-related deaths. Another hung around for four months in 1879, plunging London into darkness. Victorian physicians, caught between outdated theories and the dawn of germ science, believed thick beards could filter the noxious air swirling through the city. With coal smoke saturating the sky and mysterious illnesses lurking in every cough, they saw the beard as a barrier and a natural air purifier, trapping invisible enemies before they reached the throat or lungs. Public speakers were even told their beards would soothe strained vocal cords! Men were reassured that their whiskers could keep sore throats at bay. But here’s the ironic twist in this follicular fairy tale. Modern research paints a less noble picture of the beard. According to dermatologists and ecologists, those bodacious beards trap bacteria, food particles, and even play host to tiny squatters (aka ectoparasites). What the Victorians hailed as a filter functioned more like a germ motel!
So, while the beard boom of the 1800s was well-intentioned, it might be best remembered as a moment when style, “science,” and smog collided and the beard won (if only temporarily).
Ana’s Amazing Outcome From Scared to Secure
Getting a skin cancer diagnosis is frightening, but the right doctor can make you feel better about the situation and give you the confidence that everything will work out. I had a little growth on the lower right side of my eyelid, which my regular eye doctor diagnosed as skin cancer. Upon diagnosis, he immediately said, “You have to go see Dr. Scott!” I was terrified to learn I had skin cancer, but Dr. Scott made me feel comfortable. He is very gentle and kind, explaining everything that would be involved in removing the cancer and how the procedure likely wouldn’t affect my eye. He had a patient and calming demeanor that made me feel supported. I had a great impression of him
from the very beginning, and I felt safe knowing I would be in good hands.
I had seen two dermatologists who told me not to worry about the growth on my lower eyelid. It was only through the intervention of my regular eye doctor and Dr. Scott that the cancer was diagnosed and a treatment plan was developed. Working with Dr. Scott and Eye Plastic Associates was an unbelievable experience, and I’m no longer afraid to have my eyes looked at. He made a stressful situation very comfortable, and it’s always a pleasure seeing him. Without question, I would recommend him to anyone who needs eyelid surgery. In fact, I would trust my life with him.
Last March, I underwent Mohs surgery followed by reconstruction. The recovery went smoothly, and I didn’t have any pain. Aside from a little swelling and redness, you wouldn’t know I had surgery at all. Now, six months later, there are no visible signs that anything had happened to my eyelid. I’m very proud of how my eye looks, and my husband and friends say the same thing. I always look forward to my follow-up appointments with Dr. Scott and consulting with him on issues I find on my face. I’m extremely appreciative and impressed with the results, and I’m glad Dr. Scott was the doctor who performed the procedure.
–Ana Escobar
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How to Manage Styes and Recurring Chalazions Floppy Lids and Foggy Days THE STEEP COST OF SLEEP APNEA
This is one occasion where I hope an article in this newsletter does put you to sleep.
reduces the sleeper’s oxygen level, causing the brain to become aroused and triggering a deep breath. This cycle continues throughout the sleep episode, causing microawakenings that prevent an individual from resting properly. This disease, more common in men or postmenopausal women, is typically caused by obesity, chronic nasal congestion, or fat deposits in the neck, and can be worsened by smoking or alcohol consumption. Snoring is one of the telltale signs of airway obstruction. People with obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk of daytime sleepiness, decreased cognitive function, hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke, and coronary artery disease.
to them), obstructive sleep apnea can impact how your eyes look. Due to an apnea-related condition called floppy eyelid syndrome (FES), the lashes on the upper eyelid hang down, and the lid slides back and forth horizontally. When I see a patient with clear signs of FES, I’ll inquire about their sleep habits, whether they snore, and if they have family history of obstructive sleep apnea. I also give them a STOP-BANG Sleep Apnea Questionnaire, which is a series of questions to assess this diagnosis. If it is at all positive the patient should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea. This disease can be progressive and wreak havoc on your life. Please contact me if you have any questions about FES and how it may be a sign of serious sleep issues — and never ignore a snore!
To be more precise, I hope the following words help you get a better night’s rest and enjoy a healthier and happier life. At Eye Plastic Associates, I regularly see patients who don’t get enough rest. I can identify their lack of slumber without their saying a word to me about it, as their eyes tell me they likely suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disease caused by laxity and anatomical issues in the back of the throat, where the tongue and its supportive soft tissue relax when the person sleeps. This relaxation causes the tongue to swing back and forth and obstruct the airway. A completely blocked airway is called an apneic spell; a partially blocked one is called a hypopnea. This airway obstruction
In addition to disrupting a good night’s sleep (for the sufferer and often for the person sleeping next
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
Who says spring is the only time for new beginnings? This month only, enjoy 15% off all Botox and filler treatments . Call now to book your appointment and give yourself a little lift for fall! Don’t wait: this special offer is only available during September. Call today to reserve your spot! September Special: Refresh and Renew!
INGREDIENTS •
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss cauliflower with 2 tbsp olive oil. 3. Arrange cauliflower in a single
1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, plus more 1 medium red onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 4 cups vegetable broth 2 tbsp unsalted butter 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley, chives, or green onions for garnish
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layer, sprinkle with a little salt, and bake 25–35 minutes until tender.
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4. In a soup pot, heat remaining olive oil and cook onion and 1/4 tsp salt until soft. 5. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant, then add broth. 6. Add all but 4 cauliflower florets to the pot and simmer for 20 minutes. 7. Transfer mixture to a blender, add butter, and blend until smooth. Then blend in lemon juice and nutmeg. 8. Garnish with cauliflower florets and serve. Add parsley, onion, and chives as desired.
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
Inside This Issue
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Plans With Purpose
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Beards Were a Victorian Health Hack
Eye Cancer Care Done Right
Silent Slumber Sabotage
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Have a Chat With Yourself, It’s Good for You
Talking to Yourself Isn’t Crazy — It’s Self-Care!
You’ve probably caught yourself muttering under your breath or talking out loud when no one else is around. While it may feel strange, research shows that talking to yourself is perfectly normal and can be good for your mental well-being. GAIN MENTAL CLARITY When you talk to yourself out loud, your brain slows down and organizes thoughts more clearly. This is especially helpful when you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or need to make a tough decision. Saying things out loud forces you to process information more deeply, almost like giving yourself advice from a trusted friend, after all, who knows you better than yourself?
technique can help you power through a challenging work project or stressful situation with more confidence and drive.
FIND LOST ITEMS FASTER Have you ever lost your keys and started saying, “Where are my keys?” as you look around? That’s not just habit — it’s science at work. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that speaking the name of a lost object out loud can speed up the search process. When you vocalize what you’re looking for, your brain can use verbal and visual cues, helping you locate the item more efficiently. IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH What you say to yourself matters. Practicing positive self-talk, like encouraging yourself after a mistake or giving yourself a confidence boost, can reduce stress and improve emotional resilience. Phrases like “I can handle this!” or “Let’s take it one step at a time!” support a healthier, more optimistic mindset. Here’s the bottom line: Talking to yourself is a powerful tool for improving focus, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. As long as the self-talk is constructive and kind, don’t hide it; embrace it instead. So, go ahead and have a chat with yourself. Your brain will thank you.
BOOST FOCUS AND PERFORMANCE
If you sometimes talk yourself
through a difficult situation or task, keep it up! Research shows verbal cues can sharpen focus and improve task performance. Athletes, for example, often use motivational self-talk like “Keep going!” or “You’ve got this!” during training and competition. That same
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