Take a look at our October newsletter!
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
OCTOBER 2025
These days, it’s common for people to view screens until the moment they attempt to fall asleep. If you lie in bed scrolling through Facebook or watch TV until bedtime, those habits could be why you feel anxious during the day or can’t seem to get a restful night’s sleep. Looking at screens late at night can decrease your body’s melatonin levels, making it more difficult for you to unwind naturally when you should be resting. If your nighttime routine includes these activities, it may be time for a significant change. In honor of National Book Month, I’d like to suggest a healthier alternative to your late-night screen scrolling: reading the old-fashioned way! Reading a low-intensity printed book that won’t require too much brain power can provide you with a leisurely way to unwind that won’t put so much strain on your eyes and melatonin levels. Additionally, research suggests that reading in general provides mental stimulation that helps prevent diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s. Besides these benefits, reading books is something I love doing. It’s always a lot of fun when my wife, children, and I go to a bookstore and just see what’s out there. Even when we don’t purchase anything that day, we leave with ideas on books to check out when we’re done with the ones on our current reading list. Audible books are great as well when you’re on the go and don’t have a set time for reading. Of all the books I’ve read recently, “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” by Casey Means is one I recommend wholeheartedly. It’s a fascinating read that explores the connection between our internal metabolism and general health. Casey argues that chronic diseases stem from our metabolism becoming dysfunctional (“bad energy”) through poor diet, stress, poor sleep, sleep deprivation, environmental toxins, and other life factors. She also outlines how mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, are essential to our health. Books Before Blue Light
The Power of Positive Readings
Other “Good Energy” topics include nutrition, circadian rhythms, light- dark cycles, and sleep. You can learn more about Casey’s approaches to health on her website, Levels.com . You do not have to sign up for any of the paid programs, just click on the blog tab for great information.
On a personal note, I’ve been focusing on ways to incorporate more “good energy” into my life. Based on some recent material I’ve read, it’s never good to plan, “I’m going to sit for four hours in the morning, get up and maybe walk and grab some lunch, and then come back and sit for four hours in the afternoon in front of a computer. Then, on the weekends, I’m going to go for a bike ride for 25 miles and make up for all that sedentary behavior.” If your schedule allows, try to get up every 45–60 minutes during the workday for a quick five-minute walk or other activity that gets you moving. These short breaks, what I like to call ‘exercise snacks’ , refresh both your body and your mind.
And while you’re giving yourself that break, consider stepping away from screens too. Putting down your smartphone and reaching for a real book
can do wonders for your eyes and your focus. In this age of endless scrolling and streaming, printed pages offer something rare: a doorway to imagination, concentration, and lasting knowledge. In the long run, you’ll feel better if you turn a page instead of scrolling one.
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If your idea of fun seasonal travel is touring a spooky castle in October rather than hitting a sandy beach in July, here are three vacation ideas that will take your Halloween fun to spine- tingling new heights this year! WHERE WITCHES WANDER When it comes to Halloween-themed adventures, no other place on the East Coast offers more macabre merriment than Salem, Massachusetts. Known for its infamous witch trials of the late 1690s, the city transforms its dark past into a destination that balances historical facts with tongue-in-cheek kitsch. The weeks leading up to Oct. 31 are filled with more magic shows, tours, special events, and Halloween-themed shopping opportunities than you can shake a broom at. If you decide to partake in the area’s devilish fun this year, visit the Salem Witch Board Museum, which boasts the world’s most extensive Ouija board collection, and the Salem Witch Museum. BOURBON BONE-CHILLERS If you want to add Southern charm to your Halloween chills, a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, is in order. From above-ground cemeteries and ghost tours to ghoulishly adorned shops in the French Quarter (including the must-visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street) and an annual Halloween parade, The Big Easy will surely put you in touch with your spooky side. DETOUR TO DRACULA’S DEN From the classic 1922 film “Nosferatu” to the Francis Ford Coppola-directed cinematic masterpiece “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” that premiered 70 years later, our cultural interest in vampires has spanned decades, and, in the case of Transylvania, Romania, centuries. Anyone with a passport and a desire to catch a glimpse at the real-world aesthetic that helped define the image of Dracula and other distinctive undead characters should visit Bran Castle, an amazing monument of Gothic architecture and the long-rumored residence of infamous 15th century-era prince and mass murderer Vlad the Impaler, widely believed to be the real-life inspiration behind the Dracula character. While many of the legends associated with Transylvania may be more fiction than fact, the locale remains the go-to spot for anyone with an affinity for apparitions.
Haunted Horizons A HALLOWEEN TRAVEL TRIO
FROM WORRY TO WELLNESS Anne’s Skin Cancer Solution
“I see a dermatologist every three to six months for issues related to skin cancers. My doctor noticed a bump on my lower left eyelid that had been there for a while. After it didn’t go away with treatment, we suspected it was probably malignant. She sent me over to my ophthalmologist, whose surgeon performed a biopsy and determined it was a squamous cell carcinoma. My ophthalmologist then recommended I consult with Dr. Scott. “I had never met Dr. Scott before and knew nothing about him. I also didn’t know how the surgery was going to go, as the carcinoma was in a risky spot. The uncertainty made me anxious.
things would go, which impressed me. His staff was equally pleasant.
to see how well my surgery went. It was much less invasive than I thought it would be.
“Dr. Scott is also funny! When he was checking out my eye at one point, I said to him, ‘I see all these awards hanging around on your walls. You must be very good.’ He laughed and said, “I print those at night in my basement!’ “In March, I had my Mohs surgery, followed by an eyelid reconstruction performed by Dr. Scott. I hardly had any bruising and I had almost no pain. “When I worked as a nurse, the operating room was my favorite place to work. I saw all kinds of things in my nursing career, so it was wonderful
“A few weeks after the surgery, I went to Dr. Scott’s office on a Friday afternoon to have
some of the sutures removed. Later that day, my eye started to bother me, and the pain was not easing up in any way. I called Dr. Scott and told him what was happening. He asked me to come in the following day, which was a Saturday. He identified and removed a couple of tiny sutures that remained. Removing them was painless, and I was so impressed that he would take the time to see me on a Saturday. Most doctors wouldn’t do that, so I was extremely grateful to him.”
“Fortunately, Dr. Scott was very pleasant and gave me lots of information regarding exactly how
–Anne DiPalma
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How to Manage Styes and Recurring Chalazions Glow on the Go The Lunchtime Skin Solution
Our skin is with us for our entire lives, so we must treat it with the compassion and care that any long-term companion deserves.
which is then vacuumed up along with the crystals. The other involves using a diamond-shaped instrument to remove the unwanted superficial skin. In addition to bringing your skin back to a healthy glow, these procedures even out discoloration, fine lines, and can be applied to your face, neck, back, or chest. Treatment typically takes fewer than 30 minutes. Unlike chemical peels, which complement this procedure, microdermabrasion usually doesn’t require downtime for recovery. You could have a microdermabrasion at lunchtime and go back to work. It can be performed regularly, with most clients preferring to have it done every 8–10 weeks.. Note that this procedure does not remove age spots or deep lines and wrinkles. However, it’s perfect for a touch-up when you have a special event coming up or just want to give off a brighter look. We offer microdermabrasion at Eye Plastic Associates, and our clients are thrilled with their glowing skin. Please contact us today for more information or to schedule a consultation.
As we age, our skin undergoes tremendous transformations. Sometimes, the natural aging process puts our skin to the test. Other times, bad habits like smoking and spending too much time in the sun will compromise the quality of our complexions and remove that natural shine that most of us had in our 20’s. Thankfully, there’s a way to turn back the hands of time in how we look, and it takes less time than a typical lunch break. Microdermabrasion is a procedure that restores your appearance by using a special instrument to remove the thin, dead skin that accumulates on the top layer and causes your complexion to dull over time. Although “sandblaster” may be a strong word in this context, microdermabrasion is a gentle version of that process that gives your remaining skin a smoother and more youthful look.
Microdermabrasion is performed in two distinct ways. One involves applying tiny crystals to the skin using a special tube. The crystals loosen dead skin,
Creamy Braised Short Ribs
INGREDIENTS •
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. 2. In a large braiser, season short ribs with black pepper. Scatter onion, garlic, and thyme over ribs. Pour in white wine or broth and 1/2 cup water.
5 lbs bone-in short ribs Ground black pepper 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 6 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 1 cup white wine or broth
• • • • • • • • • •
1/2 cup water
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1 cup heavy cream
3.
Cover the braiser with a lid and roast for 2 1/2–3 hours.
1 cup chopped kale (optional) 4 tbsp salted butter, divided
4. Increase temperature to 400 F. Remove the lid, skim excess fat, and stir in heavy cream, kale, and 2 tbsp butter. Roast uncovered for 10–20 minutes. 5. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Melt remaining butter and fry sage leaves until crisp. 6. Serve ribs hot with creamy sauce, garnished with sage.
8 fresh sage leaves
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” –Dr. Seuss
Inspired by RecipesByJanet.com
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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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Bedtime Balance
2 2 3 3 4
Wicked Wanderlust
Humor, Healing, and Heart
A Fast-Track to Flawless
Creamy Braised Short Ribs
The Humble Manila Envelope
Ever wonder why those big, tan envelopes guarding your documents like Fort Knox are called “Manila” envelopes? Turns out, there’s a rich backstory behind this office supply staple, and it has roots half a world away in the Philippines. Back in the 1830s, papermakers hit a snag. Traditional materials like cotton and linen (used to make paper pulp) were in short supply. Enter the seafaring solution: Manila rope, crafted from Manila hemp (aka abacá ), is a super-strong plant fiber native to the Philippines. Tough, water-resistant, and golden in hue, these fibers became the key to making paper that didn’t crumble at the first drop of rain. Originally, these envelopes weren’t the lightweight versions you toss into your office bin today. Early Manila folders were almost as thick as cardboard, and they soon became the go-to for carrying important papers through thick and thin. While the name Manila stuck, the actual plant fiber didn’t. Over time, cheaper, easier-to-process wood pulp took over. But by then, the golden hue and reliable durability had built a brand. Even without a shred of real abacá, the trusty envelopes still carried the Manila name like a badge of honor. But here’s the twist: Despite the usefulness of Manila hemp, Filipino farmers barely benefited. During its colonization of the Philippines, the U.S. controlled abacá trade and funneled profits away from the source. So, the next time you grab a Manila envelope to stash your paperwork or mail your wares, know you’re holding a slice of history that stood the test of time (and coffee spills). Who knew your office supply drawer had such worldly flair?
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