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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
SEPTEMBER 2022
CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF MAKING THE DREAM WORK
I’m a fortunate person in many ways, and one of them is that I enjoy coming to work every day. I have my incredible staff to thank for that. They share my passionate approach to caring for people and help me make every visit memorable. This Labor Day, I want to take a moment to thank them. Let me introduce you to the Fearless Foursome. Our ophthalmic assistant, Jenisse, is my right- hand person. She has worked here for seven years, and since her very first day, she has done an amazing job welcoming our patients to the office. Before they ever meet me, Jenisse collects their medical history, checks their visual acuity, and prepares them for the rest of their visit. She has many additional responsibilities, including organizing and sterilizing our instruments in our state-of- the-art minor operating room and maintaining our medical supplies throughout the office. Jenisse also does all of our visual field testing that helps us demonstrate to insurance companies that a particular procedure is medically necessary. It is also a huge relief to say she proofreads all of my consult letters to ensure they represent the English language before being sent. It has been an extraordinary pleasure working with her for so long. Dawn, our office manager and surgical coordinator, has been with the office for five and a half years. When she first joined us, she had a trial by fire. Our previous office manager was supposed to train Dawn but she moved to Florida and left Dawn on her own practically from day one. So, Dawn went into her new role blind. To her extreme credit, she hung in there with a great attitude while she learned the ropes. Now, she is amazing at her job. When I’m not in the office, I can trust Dawn to take charge and ensure things run smoothly. She’s also spectacular in her everyday role of getting patients set up for their surgeries. She prepares all of our pre-op paperwork, and the nurses at the hospital always compliment me on the organization of Dawn’s surgical packets. She can step into virtually any role in the office and do the job well, and she does it all with a smile on her face. She sets a wonderful example for all of us on how to treat people and approach life.
Jessica has been with us for about two and a half years and has taken on a lot of new responsibilities since first starting with us. It’s been a pleasure to watch her grow. Though she previously worked at our checkout position, she now handles check-in and serves as our new patient coordinator. She confirms appointments, reschedules as necessary, and helps people complete their paperwork before visiting the office.
Most importantly, Jessica greets everyone with a smile. She has an infectious, upbeat attitude that affects the whole office. Her catchphrase is “my pleasure,” which is much nicer than “no worries.” It’s beautiful to hear, and I now use it myself when someone thanks me.
Laura is our newest employee and began working here a few months ago. She has taken over checkout duties and has been an excellent addition to our staff. Laura is responsible for helping our patients schedule follow-up appointments and ensuring we have all the correct information on file to bill their insurance for their visit. She has also been very helpful with preparing and saving my physician referral letters. We pride ourselves on always taking less than a week to send a letter back to a referring doctor, and Laura’s work allows us to keep that commitment. She has picked up the position quite quickly since she first joined us, and I look forward to watching her grow in this key role.
I feel incredibly blessed to have this staff! A big thank- you to Jenisse, Dawn, Jessica, and Laura for laboring beside me every day. You are my dream team, and I appreciate your work every day of the year.
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HOW MICHAEL PHELPS FOUGHT MENTAL ILLNESS A DECORATED OLYMPIAN’S HARDEST BATTLE: DEPRESSION THE CRAZIEST OLYMPIC MARATHON OF 1904 It’s Unbelievably True!
In 1904, the year of America’s first Olympics, the men’s marathon was a bizarre spectacle to behold. In fact, it was likely the most jaw-dropping event ever in the history of the Olympic Games. On that hot, sweltering summer day in St. Louis, MO, only 14 of the 32 Olympic competitors crossed the finish line on what was deemed the most difficult course anyone was ever asked to undertake. Thomas Hicks, the American who actually came in first, received the slowest time of all of the Olympic marathons since 1896. But why was this one so tough?
seven hills was a bit much for competitors. Not to mention, support cars were churning up dust, leaving it behind for the runners to inhale, and they only had two water stations available before the halfway mark — and none in the second half! Even seasoned runners were not up to this crazy course! Three hours and 13 minutes after the marathon began, Fred Lorz, who had ridden a third of the course in a car, crossed the finish line. He was about to be adorned with a floral wreath when he confessed he had gotten so tired that he accepted a ride from one of the cars along the way, so he was disqualified.
Thomas Hicks, the true winner, was struggling with just 7 more miles to go. His fans on the sidelines provided him with a secret energy booster mix — a concoction containing strychnine (rat poison), brandy, and egg whites. By the time he crossed the finish line, he was hallucinating. And the fourth-place winner from Cuba wore dress pants and shoes for the entire race (because he lost his money gambling in New Orleans on his way to St. Louis and arrived after hitchhiking with nothing but the clothes on his back!). This 1904 Olympic marathon went down in history as the most bizarre and wildly entertaining race. Luckily, but surprisingly, nobody died!
With temperatures of roughly 104 degrees F and 90% humidity, a rigorous 24.85-mile course with
Doing What She Loves Back on Track
A Blepharoplasty Kept Jeannie
Heavy eyelids run in Jeannie’s family, so when she realized they were impacting her everyday life, she had plenty of places to turn. “My mother and my sister both had blepharoplasties done,” she says, and several of her friends had also undergone the procedure. She scheduled a visit with Dr. Scott after people she knew sang his praises. Thanks to her relative familiarity with the procedure, Jeannie reports not feeling nervous before undergoing surgery. “It was impairing my peripheral vision, and I knew I needed it done,” she says matter of factly. Jeannie underwent an upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty on both eyes and received CO 2 laser treatment to remove signs of aging. “Not that I have wrinkles at age 72,” she says with a wink. Jeannie reports the recovery period as “intense,” but she believes it was more the result of the laser than the blepharoplasty. “Dr. Scott did a blepharoplasty on a friend of mine the other week. I saw him on the second day, and he looked fabulous,” she notes. As for her, “It wasn’t terrible, but I did have to ice the area all the time.” Her biggest stressor was her caretaker. “I had to fire my husband from nursing duties after a few days of him taking care of me,” she laughs.
Once the swelling subsided, Jeannie became excited about the results. “It looks 100% better,” she says. Her peripheral vision has also improved dramatically. “Now I can see without lifting my eyebrow,” she jokes. Jeannie has been married for 44 years. Her children are now grown, and she lives with her husband and a Great Dane. In her spare time, she tries to exercise as much as possible. “That’s why I needed to see!” she says. In particular, she loves to hike with her friends across the country and throughout Europe. Her goal is to go hiking in every U.S. national park, and she’ll soon be hitting all five in Utah. “I know I won’t be able to do this forever, so I’m crossing items off my bucket list while I can,” she explains. Jeannie remains grateful for how her surgery has improved her appearance and kept her out on the trails. “Dawn is fantastic, and Dr. Scott is a fabulous doctor,” she says. “He’s very specialized because he just does eyes, which was huge to me. The office was wonderful, and I would recommend it in a second.”
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EYES WIDE OPEN What Causes Droopy Lids?
Droopy eyelids are one of the most common reasons doctors refer patients to Eye Plastic Associates. Our patients are often displeased with how their eyelids make them appear older and tired, but many also experience vision trouble due to the eyelid blocking their field of vision. But why do droopy eyelids occur? Two conditions cause most cases of droopy eyelids. The first is ptosis, which is the name used for a droopy eyelid when the eyelid itself fails to open properly. Dr. Scott generally tests for ptosis by gently lifting the skin on the upper eyelid and measuring whether the eye can open fully. Ptosis has many causes, including congenital anomalies, nerve damage, and rarely, as the result of Botox use around the upper eyelid. The most common cause is a general weakening or slipping back of the upper eyelid’s levator muscle, allowing the upper edge of the eyelid to droop. Over time, these attachments of the levator muscle to the upper eyelid become less strong and the eyelid drops. The condition is associated with long-term wearing of gas- permeable contact lenses since many people pull on their lids too aggressively while removing the contact lenses. So, be gentle with your eyes!
upper eyelid and return the levator to its original position, thereby correcting the ptosis. This approach leaves patients without any visible scarring, and the stitching dissolves on its own. When the eyelid is in a normal position, but there is redundant skin hanging near or over the upper eyelid margin, this is referred to as dermatochalasis. Skin can hang over the lid margin as it naturally loses collagen with age. The fat pad underneath the eyebrow can also flatten, letting skin hang down and obscure a person’s vision. Blepharoplasty surgery is the most common treatment for dermatochalasis. It is the surgical removal of the appropriate amount of skin, muscle, and/or fat from the upper eyelid. When done well, patients will look like they’ve had a good night’s sleep rather than obvious eyelid surgery. Unfortunately, many cases of dermatochalasis, or redundant upper eyelid skin, are genetically inherited. You can minimize any additional damage you do to your eyelids by being gentle when washing your face or gentle when inserting or removing contact lenses. And don’t forget Dr. Scott’s advice: “If you notice as a kid that your parents have drooping eyelids, make sure to get new parents!”
Most people with significant acquired ptosis will receive an internal ptosis repair. During this surgery, Dr. Scott will create an incision on the inside of the
No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup
Inspired by RecipeTinEats.com
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 3 carrots, sliced • 3 celery ribs, sliced • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 cups water • 1 1/4 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs • 1 cup uncooked white rice • Salt, to taste
A referral is the highest compliment we can receive! Thank you for sending us five referrals this month!
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot over medium- high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, then sauté for 1 more minute. 2. Add the bouillon, parsley, pepper, chicken broth, and water. Stir, then add the chicken thighs.
3. Cover and simmer on medium- low for 30 minutes, then add the rice. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the pot from the heat
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” –Voltaire
and transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Shred the meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the bones.
5. Stir, salt, and serve!
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
Inside This Issue
1
Dr. Scott Honors His Staff
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The Insane Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon
Meet Blepharoplasty Patient Jeannie!
What Causes Droopy Eyelids?
No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup
Places to Visit Similar to Montana
3 Vacation Destinations Similar to Montana Get Out and Explore
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING In Grand Teton National Park, you’ll find many sights and wildlife similar to those seen on screen in “Yellowstone.” The towering craggy peaks and luscious landscape do not disappoint, and sometimes there is no sign of human development for miles. It’s a truly remote and beautiful place to visit and explore.
Because of the popularity of the Kevin Costner miniseries “Yellowstone,” the state of Montana is seeing an economic boom, both in tourism and real estate, as people flock to explore the natural beauty of the state. But with Montana’s increasing popularity, traveling there may not be ideal, especially if you want to avoid crowds. Here are some other destinations that offer similar sights and activities!
You are sure to encounter some amazing wildlife while hiking or camping — the park is home to more than 60 species of mammals and 300 species of birds.
BIGHORN NATIONAL FOREST, WYOMING Specifically known for being remote, Bighorn National Forest is located in north- central Wyoming and offers over 192,000 acres of open wilderness and 1,200 miles of hiking trails to venture out on. The forest contains many meadows and grasslands surrounded by large, dancing mountains and rolling hills. The best part is that there are many different ways to explore Bighorn National Forest. Fishing, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, hunting, and horseback riding are just a few of the many ways to experience Wyoming’s beauty.
STANLEY, IDAHO If the mountains are calling your name, then Stanley, Idaho, is the place to go! About three hours northeast of Boise, this gem has three different mountain ranges: the Sawtooth, Lost River, and White Cloud. This trifecta is home to whitewater rafting, hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and exploring. While there’s tons to see and experience during the day, the beauty doesn’t stop at night. As Stanley is situated in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, you’re able to see so much more in the night sky, such as the Milky Way, meteors, and even planets!
Are you ready to get out and explore these different areas of our nation’s beauty? Check some of these great destinations off your bucket list!
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