Nature Coast Times

• The prime minister of Japan underwent sinus surgery on a Saturday and returned to work on Monday.
• He said the procedure went "smoothly" and thanked everyone for their "concerns and encouragement."
• A local doctor said that innovation has made sinus surgery faster and less invasive.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had sinus surgery in Tokyo last month to resolve chronic sinusitis symptoms he had been dealing with since last year, according to AP News.

“The surgery went smoothly, and I have returned to my official residence,” Kishida told AP News. “Thank you very much, everyone, for your concerns and encouragement.”

He had the surgery on Saturday and said he would return to work on Monday. He had been treating his chronic sinusitis and polyps with medication, but decided to have the surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Throughout the last year, the local media had sometimes commented on Kishida's stuffy nose and congestion.

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers tells her patients that balloon sinuplasty is a quick, painless, minimally invasive procedure, especially compared to older sinus surgeries, and it helps return the sinuses to their normal function. 

"Over the years, we've perfected the art of sinus surgery and treatment options," Pate told Nature Coast Times. "For so many years, we did big sinus surgeries -- and for some people and some patients, that's still the right treatment plan. But now we have options for people with mild-to-moderate sinusitis who are able to have procedures done usually in the office, under local anesthesia, who do really well." 

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, and it can have a negative effect on one's quality of life, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The NCBI conducted a study comparing patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with patients who opted for a balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinusitis. They found that, although both procedures are effective, balloon sinuplasty patients needed fewer antibiotic treatments after having the procedures.

FESS involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasties are "less traumatic," since they don't include removing any tissue, and instead rely on dilation to improve sinus function.

A balloon sinuplasty procedure takes only 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities in that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center. FESS procedures take one and a half to two hours, and patients might need up to four weeks to fully recover, during which time they should avoid strenuous activities, such as exercising.

"This procedure is unique because it takes the natural anatomy of the sinuses and augments it and opens it up so people can breathe better. It's a pretty easy procedure for most people. It's done under local anesthesia, and people do really well," Pate said. "For these patients who have this procedure, it's done in the office; it usually takes about an hour. They go home the same day. They have about a day or two of recovery. Then they're back to work, living their life, and they feel a lot better."

For information about about the symptoms of allergies and sinusitis, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.