Measure Twice, Cut Once

The Parallels of a Past Hobby and My Present Career

We often hear about people turning their favorite hobbies into “side gigs” or making money from them one way or another. Yet, isn’t the point of cherishing a hobby to do it just for the pleasure of it and nothing more? January is National Hobby Month and there’s one hobby in particular I miss partaking in just for the fun of it. National Hobby Month has given me a chance to look back at one of my favorite hobbies as a teen and how it could certainly have predicted my career today: woodworking.

In high school, I was able to take woodworking classes and I went after it diligently for three years. I didn’t do it just because it seemed like an easy A. I genuinely loved woodworking and being able to build a piece of furniture each year with my own designs.

I would always go for a unique design, like a parquet table with inlay square blocks, a circular rim, and a pedestal base. I loved picking out the right type of wood, choosing a particular shape, and deciding all the details of what I would do. Each year, they would pick the best in class, and I’m still proud of winning both in my junior and senior years. I still have the furniture I made and I hope to pass it on to my grandchildren someday.

Unfortunately, when college came along, and I was busy jumping from engineering to medical school, I lost the time to practice woodworking. Yet, now that I look back at that hobby, I see that I undoubtedly chose a career path not too far off from it! Both woodworking and eyelid surgery share a need for exactness and a plethora of other similarities.

Just as I would have to decide on what wood types to use, like maple versus oak or softer woods versus harder woods, I have to do the same with tissues. Then, there is the grain of the wood and the alignment of these materials to ensure everything looks clean. The same applies to lining up tissues in eyelid surgery.

Of course, safety being a priority in each area is undeniable. I need safety protection for both my patient’s eyes and my own during laser surgery. The overall goal is to be extremely safety conscious throughout any eyelid surgery. Back in my high school woodshop, we all had to wear safety goggles to prevent wood chips from flying too close to our eyes and had to take extra care to protect our fingers when moving close to a moving blade!

Lastly, precision and accurate measurements are absolutely vital in both practices. My mantra of “measure twice and cut once” back in high school still stands strong today as a surgeon. I will always measure under a magnifying glass to get the most exact results. I’ll even remeasure my work again in the procedure room just to be sure.

I know now that my early interest in woodworking was why I was attracted to eyelid surgery. After I retire from Eye Plastic Associates, I have every intention of returning to my past hobby and diving straight back into woodworking right where I left off.

I hope you can pick up an old hobby or start a new one this National Hobby Month. Hobbies make our lives even more fulfilling and well-rounded, so take your time and find a passion that has nothing to do with profit or career growth. Just do it for the fun of it.

Meet Dr. Scott - Your Dedicated Oculoplastic Surgeon

Renowned for his commitment to enhancing your eyelid and facial appearance while prioritizing your safety. Dr. Scott is board-certified in Ophthalmology and has specialized fellowship training in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  With extensive training at prestigious institutions, including the Medical College of Virginia, Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Scott brings a wealth of expertise to his craft. His accolades, including recognition as a Top Plastic Surgeon by Northern Virginia Magazine, underscore his dedication to excellence. Dr. Scott's passion lies in helping you achieve the best aesthetic results while safeguarding your eyesight.

Location: Fairfax - Northern Virginia

Areas of Expertise: Cosmetic laser eyelid surgery ( blepharoplasty ), ptosis surgery, treatment of benign and malignant eyelid cancers, correction of eyelid malposition – ectropion, entropion repair, and Botox and filler treatment.