North Richmond Today

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson underwent a sinus procedure shortly before announcing his resignation.

• He had the procedure in the morning and returned to work later that same day.

• A balloon sinuplasty procedure can take as little as 30 minutes, and the recovery time is minimal.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation in early July, following a string of controversies and scandals throughout his almost 3 years in office, CNBC reported.  During the 2 days leading up to his announcement, dozens of members of Johnson’s own party called for him to step down, expressing their lack of confidence in the Conservative Party leader. 

Johnson said he will remain in office until a new party leader is chosen to take over. 

Two weeks before he said “Hasta la vista, baby” in his final "Prime Minister's Questions" session, Johnson took a quick trip to a hospital to take care of a sinus issue. 

In late June, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson underwent a minor sinus procedure, The Guardian reported. Johnson went to the hospital around 6 a.m. and was home by 10 a.m. A medical source said Johnson likely had a functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which is a treatment for chronic sinusitis.

One method of FESS is when a doctor inserts a small balloon into the patient's nostril, then inflates the balloon to widen the patient's blocked sinus. This procedure does not involve facial incisions, and complications are rare.

On the day of his sinus procedure, Johnson was able to return to his office and attend meetings in the afternoon, Bloomberg reported.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It’s also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure, according to Healthline.

"Balloon sinuplasty came out in 2005. It is a fantastic new technique, because what studies have shown is that it's as effective as traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery," Dr. John Ditto at Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told North Richmond Today. "So I can perform a procedure for a patient and improve their recurrent sinusitis by using a minimally invasive technique to improve them, instead of taking them to the operating room under general anesthesia and performing a sinus bone and membrane destruction procedure where you're removing things. Here I’m just opening things up, just allowing them to breathe."

After a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two. Some people even drive themselves home after the procedure.

Balloon sinuplasty is becoming more popular because it has lower risks and a quicker recovery time than traditional sinus surgery, according to GoodRx. The procedure can take as little as 30 minutes and does not require the removal of any bone or facial tissue, leading to less pain and swelling and a lower risk of infection. 

Readers can learn more about sinusitis or balloon sinuplasty and take a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz from Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.