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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
JUNE 2023
NATURE’S MEDICINE
Summer is almost here, and there’s no better time to get outdoors. Why not enjoy the weather and simultaneously give your body the movement it needs? We have so many beautiful spots in the area to enjoy. Tala and I love biking and try to find as much time as possible to do it during the summer. I gave my knees a beating by running track when I was younger and I’ve had multiple knee surgeries. Riding my bike has a low impact on my joints while helping me build strength and endurance. Fortunately, we’re spoiled by the many amazing bike trails around Northern Virginia. My favorite is probably the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD), which is paved, peaceful, and beautiful. One friend I like to ride with — will only agree to go if we stop at a brewery. Grabbing a beer and a bite to eat before pedaling back is fun. Not that I condone drinking and riding! We always stick to one glass of beer each. I also enjoy Burke Lake Trail, which goes in for a loop around the shoreline. It’s the perfect easy ride, and, at 4.7 miles, even most beginners can conquer it. We also branch out and take in the Mount Vernon Trail, which is closer to D.C. But wherever we are, I get a kick out of zipping through the great outdoors. It’s so different from riding a stationary bike inside and I can immediately feel the difference on my first ride outside each year. I also like the challenge of going uphill and watching myself improve as the months pass. At the same time, I’m keeping myself healthy and preventing the normal loss of muscle mass that comes with age. HOW THE OUTDOORS IMPROVES MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT
don’t fully understand yet. One of them relates to mTOR, a biological pathway to
cellular growth. You may not have heard of mTOR yet, but you probably will soon.
The discovery of mTOR originated from rapamycin, a fungus found at the bottom of a volcano on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). After a long and convoluted research history, scientists discovered that rapamycin has uses as an immunosuppressant for people with organ transplants. Studies have also found rapamycin extends the life of dogs and rats by suppressing mTOR. Experts believe it may do the same in humans. Exercise similarly reduces mTOR in our bodies, allowing our body to clean up the waste inside our cells and produce more mitochondria, our cells’ powerhouses. It’s one of the reasons exercise gives us more endurance and energy over time. It could also be one of the reasons why physical activity is linked to a longer lifespan.
Fortunately, exercise isn’t just good for us — it can also be a lot of fun. I hope you make the most of the season by enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery while getting your heart pumping. Maybe I’ll see you on the trails.
Exercise is probably the best thing we can do for our bodies. It improves our sleep, brain function, memory, mood, and more. Exercise even has benefits we
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Meal Planning Can Help With Indecisiveness
Have you ever had those days when you don’t want to cook? What about times when you’ve had a long day at work, and the last thing on your mind is dinner? Pulling out your pots, cutting boards, and food can be stressful when you’re mentally and physically weary. Is there anything you can do to make this part of your life easier? Meal planning and prepping takes the stress out of cooking! WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF MEAL PLANNING? Know the answer to “What’s for dinner?”: There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your pantry, looking at the food, and not knowing what to eat. It can be draining to decide what to cook each night. But meal planning helps you determine your dishes in advance, so you never need to wonder what you and your family will eat that night. And best of all, you only need to cook at least once a week. Keep more money in your pocket: Sometimes, when you are unsure of what you want to eat, your first option may be to order takeout. While this is a quick and easy way to get dinner, it can create a huge hole in your wallet — especially
if you eat out more than once a week or feed a family. You will no longer need to make nightly food runs when you meal plan! You can buy your food in bulk, prepare a few nights’ worth of meals, and save tons of money.
WHAT HINDERS PEOPLE FROM MEAL PLANNING?
Making meals too complicated is the main reason why meal planning doesn’t work for some people. When starting out, it’s best to create easy and basic foods. Once you begin meal planning, you will discover more simplistic ways to make intricate dishes. Another reason people avoid meal prep is the amount of time spent in the kitchen. However, you will save yourself time each day, so you can continue doing what you want throughout the week and less time ordering takeout or quickly throwing a menu together. Go online to find meal prep guides and a multitude of recipe options. We can’t wait to hear about your meal-prepping experience during your next visit!
AN EYE-OPENING TREATMENT CAMILLE REFLECTS ON PTOSIS SURGERY
“You don’t get enough rest” was a refrain Camille heard often. In truth, she was getting plenty of sleep, but her drooping eyelids made her look permanently tired. The worst part was that she experienced limited vision and had to move her head to scan the area around her. Once she had surgery with Dr. Scott, both concerns are now in the past. Camille, a former school teacher, saw Dr. Scott at the urging of her ophthalmologist. He diagnosed her with ptosis, a condition where a weakened eyelid muscle prevents the eye from opening entirely. “Dr. Scott has such a comforting way about him,” Camille says. “He didn’t pressure me into anything; it was like talking to a friend. He’s not a salesman and tells you your options but stresses that the decision is yours.”
After speaking with Dr. Scott, Camille chose to undergo surgery. She reports, “Everything went beautifully.” She noticed immediate results after surgery. “It was amazing,” Camille says. “I could move my eyeball to the left, right, up, and down, and I was seeing so much better!” “Dr. Scott had a real challenge,” Camille adds, “because one eye was much worse than the other. But they’re very much the same now and look even. He’s blessed with a skill.” She also reports being impressed with Dr. Scott’s honesty. “He gave me the worst scenarios, but I was fortunate that those didn’t happen in his skilled hands,” Camille says.
internal surface, I would have a greater fold of my upper eyelid skin postoperatively,” she remembers. “He said it was up to me whether I address that eyelid fold. It’s not that noticeable except to me, but I’m going back to have him take care of that as well.” Camille considers her ptosis hereditary, noting that a cousin in New York has suffered from the same problem. “She had an operation a few years ago,” Camille says. “But she was very unhappy with the results when she finished the operation, and now she feels like she’s back to square one.” Camille is grateful that she’s had a completely different experience. “I told my cousin if she ever wants to try again, she should come to Virginia and see Dr. Scott,” she says, “because as far as I’m concerned, he’s the best in the business.”
“He also told me that because he was going to raise my eyelids by approaching them for the
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BOTOX IS NOT A FILLER FIND OUT HOW IT REALLY WORKS
Almost everyone these days knows what Botox is — but far fewer people understand what it does. It’s a common misconception that Botox is a cosmetic filler that plumps up skin and smooths wrinkles. In truth, Botox reduces the appearance of facial lines by stopping specific muscles from contracting. Botox is the brand name of botulinum neurotoxin, an injection used to treat various medical and cosmetic conditions around the face and body. It can treat excessive sweating, muscle spasms around the eyes, and in a small percentage of people, help their migraines. However, Botox is most commonly used to reduce crow’s feet, vertical lines between the eyebrows, and forehead lines by relaxing the muscles that cause the facial wrinkles. In order to understand how Botox works, you must first understand how our muscles usually function. Your brain sends a signal down a motor nerve to tell a muscle to contract. At the end of the nerve there are nerve terminals that contain numerous synaptic vesicles, which store a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Neurotransmitters take a “message” from one cell in the body and delivers it to another. Normally, a SNARE protein, inside the nerve terminal “escorts” the synaptic vesicle to the outer membrane of the terminal and helps it to release the stored acetylcholine. Since the nerve terminal is positioned just above the muscle fibers, acetylcholine can easily crosses the space, called a synaptic cleft, and trigger the muscle to contract. The acetylcholine binds to a specialized acetylcholine receptor on the muscle’s outer membrane, and through a lock and key type interaction, the muscle contracts.
After a Botox injection, the SNARE proteins in the nerve terminal are denatured and the synaptic vesicles have no escort. As a result, the corresponding muscle does not get the signal to contract and the fold in the skin does not occur. The nerve terminal will naturally start making new SNARE proteins, to replace the dysfunctional proteins, so after about three to four months, the Botox “wears off”.
Botox administered in a professional setting is very safe. Some patients experience mild side effects like swelling or redness, and very rarely, people can experience allergic reactions. Unfortunately, as with many medical treatments, Botox can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Anyone interested in trying the product should seek an experienced professional rather than attending a “home Botox party.” Using an experienced practitioner for Botox administration is not only a safety issue — it will likely help people see better results. Not all wrinkles are the same! Botox can be very effective on some lines and relatively useless on others. A practitioner can analyze the areas you want to improve and make appropriate recommendations. Sometimes, they might recommend a filler instead. Dr. Scott, at Eye Plastic Associates, has years of experience administering Botox in a clinical setting and helping patients achieve their desired improvement. If you have questions about Botox or cosmetic fillers, please call our office to schedule a personalized consultation.
Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls
Inspired by HungryHobby.net
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Chia Seed Jam We suggest making the chia seed jam in advance and storing it in the refrigerator so you can quickly assemble these yogurt bowls all week. Using a potato masher, mash down the cherries. Place a small pot on high heat and add the cherries, chia seeds, honey, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow jam to cool before using or refrigerate. Greek Yogurt Bowls In a small serving bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with vanilla extract. Top the Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp cherry chia seed jam, hemp seeds, granola, and a few additional cherries, if desired.
Chia Seed Jam •
2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted 3 tbsp chia seeds
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2 tbsp honey 1/4 cup water
A referral is the highest compliment we can receive! Thank you for sending us seven referrals this month!
Greek Yogurt Bowl •
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• • •
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.” –John F. Kennedy
1 tsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp granola
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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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Make the Most of Your Summer and Health
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Tired of Wondering ‘What’s for Dinner?’
A Patient’s Eye-Opening Surgery
Do You Know How Botox Works?
Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls
The Colorful History of Medieval Smack Talk
The Original Rap Battles How Disses Became Poetry
Long before diss tracks, rap battles, and “yo mama” jokes, there was medieval “flyting.” Defined as quick exchanges of witty insults, these poetic slights were popular in England and Scotland from the 5th to 16th century. Insulting someone in verse took immense effort and quick wits, and they were undoubtedly a performance you didn’t want to miss. Despite crude language and below-the-belt potshots, flyting became entertainment for royals and was dubbed “court flyting.” While these jests are not well-documented, one flyting event made history. The iconic exchange known as “The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie” occurred in the early 16th century between William Dunbar and Walter Kennedie. The two were performing their court flyting for the Scottish King James IV. Both men were known for their intellect and clever nature, and their flyting did not disappoint. This famous dialogue featured two firsts: using fecal matter as an insult and dropping the F-bomb. Low-brow and crass, these speedy insults were simply too entertaining for even kings and queens to ignore.
If you’re wondering what exactly these two “gentlemen” were saying, we’d have to admit that it would be difficult to quote without including expletives and curses. However, one tame section can be shared here. Dunbar reportedly insulted Kennedie by saying:
Maggoty mutton, gorged glutton, scurrilous certain heir to Hillhouse, Rank beggar, oyster-dredger, dismal debtor on the lawn, Lily-livered, soul-shivered, cheap as slivers in the millhouse, Bard baiter, thief of nature, false traitor, devil’s spawn.
While these amusing fights were a form of entertainment, men also used them to influence the courts and improve their social profile while lowering others. So, as you can imagine, flyting could get intense (similar to rap battles and heated diss tracks).
Centuries have passed, yet some things never really change!
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