A patient’s guide to top surgery in Athens

Julian Stevens
4 days ago
4 min read

By Julian Stevens

NB: This blog is based on my personal experiences as a patient of Dr Ioannis Ntanos, navigating his Athens practice. Any recommendations made as part of this blog are based on my personal opinion and do not constitute professional or medical advice.

Congratulations!

If you are reading this then you have either already had your first online consultation, or are considering whether or not you'd like to have top surgery with Dr Ioannis Ntanos in Athens.

Well, you've come to the right place!

I have written you a step-by-step guide, based on my own experience in October 2025, that will go through all the information you need including: booking flights and accommodation, preparing for surgery, an estimation on the costs and what to expect during your initial recovery period.

You may be feeling a mixture of emotions in this next stage of your transition. Anxiety, excitement, even a bit of derealisation. This is a big milestone and I hope that this blog provides you with enough information to choose a surgery destination that's right for you.

Planning your trip

When it comes to travelling internationally for healthcare reasons, it is completely up to you whether or not you'd like to set aside time for a holiday. Some people may prefer to focus on their surgery and recovery, whereas others may want to save a bit more money to explore and get the most out of their trip. It's always better to do this before surgery to ensure there are no physical limitations and gives you more time to recover. I found it to be a great distraction from any pre-op anxiety and I ended up having an amazing holiday!

Flights - https://www.skyscanner.net

The best place to find cheap flights is on sky scanner, a website that searches through all the airline companies for the best deals. A return flight from London Gatwick to Athens International cost roughly £100 and I made sure to book as far in advance as possible once I'd been given my surgery date. I decided to have it done during autumn so I wasn't uncomfortable/overheated during my recovery period. Greece can get hot, even in months like March and September.

I'd recommend booking a minimum of two weeks for your total time in Athens, putting aside as many days after your surgery as possible. I booked 5 days for a holiday, had my surgery, then had 9 days after to recover before flying back home. Do check in with Ioannis if you have any concerns about post-op travel.

Accommodation - https://www.airbnb.co.uk

Booking an Airbnb instead of a hotel or hostel is the best choice. It allows you to have more personal and physical space, your own kitchen, which will save money on food out, and you won't have to share with anyone apart from the person(s) joining you on the trip. Make sure to get one with air-conditioning, WiFi, enough pillows and blankets and a large bed to yourself.

Prices for apartments may vary depending on the location, time of year and number of rooms. I found a good deal in late September for €580 each for two people in double bedrooms for two weeks. Which came to roughly €40 a night. This did mean that I was on the other side of the city from the hospital but transport in Athens is very efficient in both the metro and Uber, however finding accommodation closer would be more ideal.

Support - https://www.hygeia.gr/en/

Make sure to bring a trusted friend, partner or family member(s) with you for emotional and physical support. They would need to be happy and willing to take care of you in the first few days after your surgery. Your movement will be limited and you might even need help washing yourself, preparing food and getting in and out of bed.

For any questions or issues you may have after your surgery, Ioannis can be contacted via WhatsApp and usually responds very quickly. The hospital you will be having your procedure in is called Hygeia (linked above). It is the biggest private hospital in Greece with the best healthcare professionals who are very friendly and supportive.

Recovery - https://www.ioannisntanos.com/after-the-operation

Everything you need to know about your post-op recovery can be found on Ioannis' website above. Remember that the process is never linear and everyone is different.

- Keep your calories up, drink plenty of water and take painkillers as and when you need

- Sitting up and lying down will be difficult in the beginning and you won't be able to reach your arms up for 6 weeks

- Avoid doing nothing but also pace yourself. Listen to your body when you feel like you can move around and watch some post-op videos on light exercises and stretching

- Watch films, read books and enjoy relaxing for as long as possible. You deserve it!

The gender euphoria that often accompanies top surgery means many people recover nicely within the first week. When we feel good, our bodies heal better. Mix that with a great holiday in Greece, safe and supportive company and some delicious healthy food and you should be on the mend very soon.

Choosing Athens as a surgery destination was probably the best decision I ever made. I got to visit a new city, have a great time with my partner, receive some of the best medical care, all while saving time and money on the NHS waiting lists or private healthcare fees in the UK.

For full transparency, the total cost of the trip including my surgery, flights, accommodation for two weeks and a five-day holiday was approximately £6800 - £7000 which saved me around £2000.

Best money ever spent!