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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
JANUARY 2026
HOT CHOCOLATE HERITAGE
January is an important month for many reasons, but for me, it ends on a particularly meaningful, and enjoyable, note. A Toast to a Tasty Tradition As a lifelong fan of hot chocolate, I’ve always appreciated that National Hot Chocolate Day lands on Jan. 31. Much like eggnog, which I wrote about in last month’s newsletter, hot chocolate tends to appear during colder months and often alongside shared moments. What’s easy to overlook, however, is just how long this familiar winter staple has been part of human history. Chocolate was first enjoyed not as a dessert, but as a drink, dating back thousands of years to Mesoamerica . The Olmecs , considered one of the earliest civilizations in the region, are believed to have been among the first to grind cacao beans into a paste for a ceremonial drink. This practice was later adopted and refined by the Mayans and Aztecs , who consumed a foamy beverage made from cacao and water, sometimes spiced with chili peppers, known as xocolātl . The drink was valued not only for its energizing effects, but also for its cultural and ceremonial significance. That early version was quite bitter. The sweeter drink most of us recognize today began to take shape in the 1500s , when cacao was introduced to Europe, most notably following the expeditions of Hernán Cortés. European tastes favored a milder flavor, leading to the addition of sugar. Around this time, the beverage also began to be served warm rather than cold, a shift that proved lasting.
By the 1700s , hot chocolate had become popular in England’s elite coffee houses, where it was considered a refined indulgence and even believed to offer health benefits such as improved alertness and digestion. In the early 1800s , innovation made it more accessible. In the 1820s , Dutch chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten developed powdered cocoa, allowing hot chocolate to move beyond luxury settings and into everyday homes. Today, hot chocolate remains a seasonal favorite, even if it doesn’t dominate beverage sales. While bottled water accounted for more than half of all beverages sold in the U.S. in 2024, hot chocolate represented just a small fraction. Still, for those who enjoy it, the appeal has never been about numbers. Some of my favorite memories involve a simple cup of cocoa: coming inside after playing in the snow as a child and being met by my mom with a warm mug, sharing it around campfires during my Boy Scout years, drinking it on the sidelines between plays on cold evenings of my freshman football season, or warming up with it on a camping trip with my wife to Dolly Sods in West Virginia on a particularly frigid November night. More recently, our family has made it a tradition to visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Winter Walk of Lights each winter. Last year, my sister joined us from Holland, adding another layer of meaning to an already special evening.
And yes, we all had hot chocolate.
“As a lifelong hot chocolate enthusiast, it warms my heart to know that National Hot Chocolate Day falls on Jan. 31.”
Sometimes traditions endure simply because they bring people together. So pour a cup, enjoy the moment, and take part in a ritual that has been warming hands and spirits for centuries.
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The Medieval Cat-astrophe That Invited the Plague Or Did It? While we often imagine war between rival nations fighting over an ideological difference or disputed borders, this is not always the case. Throughout history, wars have started for strange reasons, but one example that stands out occurred in the 13th century. Pope Gregory IX was the highest-ranking official in the Catholic Church from 1227 until 1241. During this period, the church had a group of agents called papal inquisitors who would “investigate” and prosecute instances of heresy. Conrad of Marburg was an inquisitor under Pope Gregory IX who strongly believed cats had ties to Satan. Many of the confessions he presented to the Pope contained evidence that cats were evil, which led the Pope to declare war on cats. As you can imagine, this was completely one-sided. The cats couldn’t possibly fight back, and between 1233 and 1234, those loyal to the church and the Pope committed a mass extermination of cats. While this likely sends shivers down any cat-lover’s spine, it also had unfortunate unintended effects. In the medieval age, cats were primarily responsible for hunting and killing the local rat population. Without cats, rat populations grew unchecked, which could have helped spread the plague throughout Europe and started the Black Death in 1346. However, take this story with a grain of salt. Documents from that time show the Pope never ordered anyone to kill cats or even that cats were satanic. There is no evidence of mass cat exterminations; if it did happen, we have no proof they played any role in the Black Death. It’s another story where the fictitious elements are simply more exciting than the truth.
STRONGER SIGHT, SHARPER FOCUS Greg’s Breakthrough for Better Vision
“My wife had an eye condition, and her optometrist recommended she visit Dr. Scott. As I was also experiencing issues with my eyes, I later made an appointment to see him. “For about 10 years, I had an excess of tissue in my eyelids, which my father also had. The droopiness was severely restricting my vision, especially when looking up. I became acutely aware of the problem in the past two years, when I began competing at a higher level in shooting sports. “I was constantly looking through my eyelashes, and people could barely see my eyes when they looked at me. My eyes had become two very narrow slits and I was eager to improve my peripheral vision and overall vision. “Dr. Scott is a great communicator. He did an excellent job of helping me understand the issue, the potential remedies, and the potential challenges of those remedies. He emphasized making sure the outcome was both aesthetically appealing and would correct my vision issue. I was very at ease with him being my surgeon. “The surgery was performed last July. My eyes’ functionality has been great, and I haven’t experienced any adverse effects from the procedure.
“It was a very straight-line recovery without the need for painkillers. My peripheral vision has significantly improved, which has had an immediate and measurable impact on my shooting scores. “Any patient working with Dr. Scott can expect to be extremely well-informed about the procedure, its results, and what the expected recovery will look like. Based on my experience, following his advice led to a smooth process and an outstanding result.” –Greg Ricketts
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The Art of Fine-Tuned Eyelid Repair MOHS MAGIC
If you’ve read the patient stories we regularly share in this newsletter, you may have noticed several that mention eyelid reconstruction after Mohs surgery. It’s something I’m often asked about, so this month I thought I’d take a moment to explain what Mohs surgery is and what happens afterward when the eyelid is involved. Mohs surgery was developed by Frederic E. Mohs and is performed by specially trained dermatologists to treat certain types of skin cancer. During the procedure, the dermatologist carefully removes the visible cancer and creates a detailed “map” of the area. Every thin layer of tissue is examined under a microscope to identify exactly where cancer cells remain. If any areas are still positive, the dermatologist returns to those specific spots and removes another very thin layer. This step-by-step process continues until all of the cancer has been removed, while conserving as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible.
When skin cancer affects the eyelid, reconstruction is often needed once the cancer has been fully removed. In most cases, I see patients the same day as their Mohs procedure, typically at Fair Oaks Hospital. My role is to repair the eyelid in a way that restores both its appearance and its function over the long term, using the least aggressive approach that’s appropriate for each individual situation. The eyelid plays an essential role in protecting the eye and keeping it comfortable and well lubricated, so precision matters. During reconstruction, anesthesia is administered in a way that preserves the eyelid’s natural position and flexibility without distorting its shape. The anesthetic also contains epinephrine, which helps minimize bleeding. Depending on the size and location of the area left by Mohs surgery, reconstruction may involve gently bringing tissue together or repositioning nearby skin and muscle to safely close the area. Patients are comfortably asleep for the duration of the procedure.
After eyelid reconstruction, patients typically wear a protective eye patch for about 4–5 days. Bruising and swelling are common at first, but usually improve over the next few weeks. Over time, any surgical scarring often becomes quite subtle. Follow-up visits are important, not only to make sure healing is progressing well, but also to monitor for any signs of new or recurrent skin cancer. When caught early, many new lesions can be treated without the need for additional Mohs surgery or reconstruction. If you have questions about eyelid reconstruction, Mohs surgery, or what the process might look like for you, our team is always happy to help. We’re here to guide you through each step with care, clarity, and a focus on long-term eye health.
Jalapeño Popper Soup
INGREDIENTS •
Place a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, then remove to a plate. Add jalapeños and onion to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic to the pot and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth, cumin, salt, and potatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes. 4 bacon slices, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces 5–6 large jalapeño peppers, minced with stems and seeds removed 1/2 small onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
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1/2 tsp cumin 1 1/2 tsp salt
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1 lb gold potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces 8 oz full-fat cream cheese
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1 cup shredded fresh cheddar cheese 2 tbsp lemon juice
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DIRECTIONS 1.
5. Place cream cheese in a
mixing bowl and add 1 ladle of hot broth before mixing. Add cream cheese mixture to the pot and stir. Remove from heat and add cheddar cheese and lemon juice, stirring until the cheese melts. Pour into serving bowls, topping with bacon and more shredded cheese.
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“Chocolate is superior to coffee and tea for health.” - Thomas Jefferson
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Inspired by TheRecipeCritic.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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Happiness in a Cup
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When the Church Declared War on Cats … or Not
2 3 3 4
Success in Sight Restoration
The Key to Cancer-Free Skin
Jalapeño Popper Soup
The Strange Rules of Old Hollywood
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE HAYS CODE When Toilets Were Taboo
In old Hollywood, even the simplest things could cause trouble. A silly sound effect, a bathroom door, or a joke at the wrong person’s expense might get a film pulled before audiences ever saw it. From the 1930s through the 1960s, studios followed the Hays Code, a list of rules meant to keep movies “clean” after scandals in the 1920s made Hollywood look like a bad influence. What began as an attempt to save the industry from outside censorship quickly turned into decades of odd restrictions. One of the strangest bans was the raspberry, or “Bronx cheer.” The harmless noise, created by placing one’s tongue between the lips and blowing, was labeled vulgar and lumped in with forbidden words like “lousy” and “cripes.” Even the famous Clark Gable line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from “Gone With the Wind” nearly didn’t make it past censors. Religion was another topic of strict censorship. Priests, ministers, and nuns could be stern or gentle but never the butt of a joke or the villain of a story. That’s why Bing Crosby’s Father O’Malley in “Going My Way” was always portrayed with a mix of effortless charm and reverence that kept him safe from censors.
to slip in a softened moment with Olivia de Havilland’s character, but only after lengthy arguments with the Code’s enforcers. But bathrooms held the most absurd taboo of all. Toilets and the humor around them simply didn’t exist on screen. Then, Alfred Hitchcock released “Psycho” in 1960 and showed a toilet and a flush. Audiences had never seen anything like it, and the Code’s hold began to crumble. By the end of the 1960s, the system had collapsed, and the rating system we still use today replaced it. Looking back, it’s hard not to believe censors wasted their energy. What once seemed scandalous now feels tame, and the real surprise is just how many everyday things were once off-limits on screen.
Childbirth was also considered improper. Labor scenes were banned outright, and even a shadow on the wall was too much. “Gone With the Wind” managed
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