Doc Talk
Aging Memories
By Bahram Ghaderi, MD, FACS
We often talk about how fast time flies and gauge aging by when a person younger than us was born. Well, a person that was born the year I graduated high school would be 35 today! Did I already say 35? I graduated from Miraleste High School in California in 1986. If you were born after that year, please keep your smirks to yourself. If you are like me and think that someone born in 1991 should be about 20 years old at most and not turning 30 this year, I’m sure you will relate to the feeling I am having of how fast time goes.
I must say I don’t feel 52, but the number is real. This summer, our last child will get his driver’s license. The cars now are so well-equipped that maybe I should find him the first car I had. It was a green 1976 Ford Pinto. Yes, the kind that was at risk for blowing up if it got rear-ended. Even better, it was a hand-me-down. One would think a radio would be standard, but, no, somehow my family bought a car with a sunroof but no radio!
How can you drive a Pinto around sunny Southern California without music? Impossible. To remedy this, I had a handheld radio, and the antenna had to stick out of the window to get any decent reception. For all younger than 35, our portable music devices were either a Boombox or a Walkman. In 1986 if you said apple, it was something you ate. At least without a phone, I could not text and drive. There were other dangers, though (aside from the whole Pinto thing). The gas pedal would sometimes get stuck, and I had to put it in neutral as I came to a red light so I could stop. Parking was equally entertaining and challenging with a stuck gas pedal. Making it uphill was not guaranteed. Where I grew up, there were many hills. I remember specifically driving up one of the hills, and I could not make it. I had to turn around and find another route.
Along with that car, the hills did create a great memory that makes me laugh to this day. I lived by my best friend with whom I still am very close. He always ran late, and on Fridays, it was even worse because he had to make sure his hair was perfect just in case he wanted to ask someone out for a date. So, one Friday, he rushed out his door and sat in the passenger seat with his perfectly combed hair and cool clothes. The night before, it had rained, and I used to park my car outside. Remember that sunroof?! Well, the rainwater had collected in the space where the sunroof was housed. As we made our way to school and drove down the hill, a massive surge of water came gushing down on top of my friend’s head. His perfect hair-gone, cool clothes-soaked! I only wish I had a phone to capture that with a photo or video! If I did, everyone would see how surprised and mad he was, and all I could do was laugh because I was completely dry! If you know me, you know I don’t like being late, but being the good friend I am, I immediately turned around so he could go home and change. Because the last thing you want to do is ruin your friend’s prospects of a Friday date.
To point out an obvious detail – when you go down a hill and turn around, you must go up the hill. Well, as we started going up the hill the rest of the water that collected there dumped onto his head. He was drenched again! The water gushed on him going down the hill and also going back up the hill and never once poured onto me. At this point, he was not just surprised twice but was using a lot of colorful language while I continued to laugh uncontrollably. He finally got dressed again, and we got to school a little late but fortunately dry. We have been friends for 40+ years, and I would not change that memory for having any other car other than the Pinto. I have included a picture of the green machine just for your pleasure.
Tying this back to plastic surgery would be a stretch and sound almost a little too philosophical. So, hopefully, it made you think of all the fond memories of your first car or simpler years, whether it was a few years ago or a few decades ago. As always, please share any comments or stories about your first car at drghaderi@stcharlesplasticsurgery.com.
As a mom, you have to wear many different hats when it comes to raising a family. Sometimes your to-do list piles up, which leaves you feeling drained. Next on your list is the treat for your kid’s birthday. No need to stress! Here is a quick ‘mom hack’ that can help you out: semi-homemade cake pops!
The traditional method of making cake pops includes baking a cake, letting it cool, mix with frosting, roll it into balls, and dip into chocolate coating.
With our mom hack, you simply buy a pre-made cake from your local grocery store, mush it all together (frosting & all), roll it into balls, then dip in chocolate coating. You have a tasty dessert in the matter of minutes! CBD and Plastic Surgery In recent years there has been a surge in CBD products flooding the marketplace as the latest cure-all. From creams to pills or oils, users take it to manage such things as chronic pain, muscle aches, anxiety, or as a sleep aid. CBD is most commonly derived from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant, and does not on its own cause a “high.”
To date, the FDA has only approved one CBD product, a prescription medication, to manage two rare and severe seizures in those older than one. Although CBD may have potential as an effective treatment for some people, it is also essential to know the risks and how they could impact and interact with your surgery.
Just because a product may be legal does not always mean it is safe. It is important to note (with the exception of the one approved mediation) that the FDA does not regulate CBD. Therefore, you cannot know that the product you buy has active ingredients at the dose listed on the label or contain other elements. To date, we still do not know the most effective doses that are therapeutic for particular medical conditions.
Can I take my CBD oil/pills before surgery? Short answer, No.
Research has found that CBD has an anticoagulant effect. In simple terms, it can “thin” your blood. As a patient, that puts you at risk for increased bleeding during surgery and after surgery. Bleeding after surgery may lead to another unanticipated surgery to correct the bleeding problem. This is an unwanted outcome.
We currently don’t have a complete understanding of how CBD interacts with other medications. CBD products may react with an enzyme in the liver that can inhibit other medications necessary for your surgery, such as anesthesia or pain relievers, from using the same system. This interaction means that it can prevent medications needed for your surgery from doing their job.
We live in a state that has legalized marijuana. Some patients believe that smoking marijuana is safer than cigarettes and may continue to smoke before surgery. Marijuana is not safer and can still lead to respiratory distress and interfere with anesthesia. It may also, like smoking cigarettes, delay the healing process and cause poor scarring at your surgical site.
As the patient, we rely on you to keep us informed of all medication and supplements you use.
Please do not undervalue the use of products that seem safe and share that information with your surgeon. For your safety and the outcome of your procedure, you will be asked to cease usage of CBD for a short period before and after surgery.
In the end, your safety is the top priority. We also want a result with which you will be happy. The choice to have plastic surgery is a big one; let’s work together for an optimal outcome!
(sources: Harvard Health and FDA.gov) The Famous Tik Tok Recipe If you haven’t already seen it on your social media, we are here to make you aware of a delicious and easy recipe that has taken the internet by storm! This baked tomato, feta, and pasta dish will leave your friends and family thinking you took a cooking class in the Mediterranean. Here is the recipe:
2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes- 4 cloves garlic, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt
- 1 block Greek feta cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces medium-length dried pasta, such as rigatoni
2 pints cherry or grape tomatoesPreheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9×13 baking dish, combine the tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, and 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Place the feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes and garlic, top with the remaining olive oil. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the garlic has softened and the tomatoes have burst their skins.
Meanwhile, prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box.
When the tomatoes and garlic are done, remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the feta, garlic, and tomatoes with a fork. Mix it until it is evenly combined. Add this to the drained pasta and stir together. Season with additional salt and pepper. To serve, divide among bowls and top with plenty of basil.
We searched the web for the top spring fashion trends for 2021. You may not be leaving your house as often as before, but you still should be on top of what is “in.”
Here are some trends that Vogue.com listed as the go-to for Spring 2021:
Miniskirts/Shorts
Skin is in. This spring, it is time to show off some leg. Many high-end designers included both miniskirts and short shorts in their collections.
Wide-Leg Trousers
Loose sweat pants were what most of us were wearing in 2020, but this spring it is all about the loose wide-leg trousers.
Poufy Sleeves
The pouf moved from hair to sleeves. The Victorian inspired sleeve is the perfect statement piece to your spring outfit.
The Scoop on Collagen
Collagen is a protein that is found in the body that helps build our bones, hair, skin, and much more. As we age, our body produces less collagen, which can cause many different things to happen. Because of this, some people supplement with collagen powders or foods that are naturally high in collagen.
Here are some benefits of supplementing with collagen:
1. Improve Skin Health
Collagen is a major component to our skin. It helps strengthen the skin, provides hydration, and improves elasticity to the skin all of which can help reduce the visibility of wrinkles.
2. Relieve Joint Pain
Collagen helps strengthen the cartilage between our joints. This can help reduce the chances of developing joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.
3. Boost Muscle Mass
Collagen is necessary to keep our muscles strong and functioning properly. Research has shown collagen can help the synthesis of protein that builds muscle such as creatine.
With warmer weather ahead it is time to start planning what you want to garden. If we were to garden, here is what we would choose as our favorite vegetable to eat:
Dr. Ghaderi: Spinach
Dale: Asparagus
Gabrielle: Green Beans
Anna: Green Beans
Alexis: Brussel Sprouts
