Sam Smith's Vocal Cord Surgery Is Successful

Sam Smith is expected to make a full recovery after surgery on his vocal cords was successful, a doctor has confirmed.

The singer, a four-time Grammy Award winner, underwent a procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital for "corrective voice surgery".

Earlier this year, Smith was forced to cancel several shows after doctors discovered bleeding in his throat - and said he was "really nervous" about the operation.

If untreated, the unstable blood vessels in his vocal cords could have ruptured - making it difficult to speak and nearly impossible to sing.

Dr Steven Zeitels, who operated on Smith in Boston, has performed the same procedure on other vocalists including Lionel Richie and Adele.

Both made a full recovery, and their singing abilities soon returned to normal.

The statement confirming Smith's successful surgery was released on the star's 23rd birthday.

His recovery is far from over - and in earlier posts on Instagram, Smith explained that he will be unable to speak for three weeks after the operation.

The British artist, known for his hit single Stay With Me, is next scheduled to perform live on 18 July.