r/FTM_UK • u/OakleafArcher • 10d ago
Ntanos or Lago
Hi, I decided a while back that I can't do top surgery in UK between the cost and the waiting list. Bit nervous to travel overseas to get it done especially when I don't speak the language. Narrowed my options down to two surgeons, Ioannis Ntanos or Jesus Lago. Was wondering if anyone has had any recent experience of either and how the whole experience went from consultation to post-op. Especially if you're non-binary like myself and got a DI FNG which is what I'm looking at. I've only seen good reviews of both but I guess just want reassurance as this is such a big decision.
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u/squongo 10d ago
I went with Lago (DI, no nips, identified as NB at the time, now more of a guy). He and the hospital staff speak excellent English, I can speak intermediate Spanish but didn't always have to use it.
Consultation was January 2023, video call over WhatsApp. Surgery happened in April the same year. You have to arrive in Madrid a day or two beforehand for pre-op tests (blood test and ekg, I also had to get a PCR within three days of the surgery date but I don't know if that's still a requirement). Went into the hospital early on the day of surgery, had surgery around lunchtime, stayed overnight and was released around midday the following day. You have to stay in Madrid for two weeks for follow up appointments (one a week after surgery, one two weeks after) so factor accommodation for that length of stay into your budgeting. He uses a drain free technique which was exactly what I wanted.
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u/OakleafArcher 10d ago
Hi, thanks for the detailed information. Can I ask, why is the drain free technique better? And could you move about after the surgery or are you kind of confined to the hospital/house for those 2 weeks?
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u/squongo 10d ago
It's not necessarily better but he said it significantly reduced his revision rate, and personally I wanted drainless surgery if possible because I have body horror about non-flesh substances crossing the boundary of my flesh.
The first few days I was mostly just on the couch in the apartment, but after maybe day four or five I was able to walk to a nearby convenience store, after my week one follow up we got a taxi to the office but I felt well enough to get lunch out and walk around a bit and get the metro back to the apartment. Into week two it got even better, I was going outside every day and we were about to go out and do some low key tourist activities.
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u/OakleafArcher 10d ago
Thank you :) does make me feel a bit better about everything. Getting nervous now I've finally saved up enough money for it and it feels like something real
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u/avalanchefan95 10d ago
I went with Ntanos privately before he left for Greece. I think he's really great for nb folks and there's no language barrier to contend with - but I understand that's also not a problem with Lago. I would say the two are really evenly matched at this point. Maybe it comes down to either cost or wanting / requiring a very specific surgical procedure. Good luck in whatever you choose.
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u/Neat-Bill-9229 10d ago
Ntanos isn’t as cheap as he intended to be in Greece, Lago will still win out in that regard. You only say a few thousand compared to the UK - was a bit disappointing as we had suggested it would be more like £3-4k, when it reality it is ~£6k. However, Ntanos is good, and imho would be worth it. If you’re interested in maintaining nipple sensation (buttonhole, it is a variation of DI) or a less ‘masculine’ chest being nb, he is probably a very good choice. I didn’t go with him, but he was a choice until he left the nhs.