Hoosier State Today

• 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.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, recently underwent sinus surgery in Tokyo to treat chronic sinusitis, which he had previously been managing with medication.

Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center says balloon sinuplasty is a quick, painless, minimally invasive procedure compared to older sinus surgeries, and it helps return the sinuses to their normal function.

"In the past, when people would seek medical treatment, they were then subjected to a much more invasive procedure, requiring a trip to the hospital or surgery center, a lengthy operation, which sometimes would impact normal nasal function going forward," Sanders told Hoosier State Today. "And it took quite a while to heal from. There was also a good amount of downtime, usually one to two weeks off work. And now we're able to do that with balloon sinuplasty in the office."

According to AP News, Kishida had suffered from sinusitis symptoms for the past year, which he had treated with medication. However, he decided to have the surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Throughout the past year, local media had sometimes commented on Kishida's stuffy nose and congestion. He had the procedure done on a Saturday and said he planned to return to work the following Monday.

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

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

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. FESS procedures typically take 90 minutes to two hours, and patients might need up to four weeks to recover, during which time they should avoid strenuous activities such as exercise.

A balloon sinuplasty procedure lasts 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities during that time, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Centers. Still, Sanders said, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure leads to quicker healing.

"Generally, people are back to work in a day or two afterwards in most cases, and the results are very similar, as far as symptom control," Sanders said. "However, it tends to leave people with less damage and normal nasal function."

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.