Travelling for surgery

International patients

Surgery in Athens, planned from home. Clear about what happens before, during and after.

Short answer

Everything starts with a video consultation with me, Stefanos Lazaridis MD, FRCS, former NHS Consultant in Upper GI and Bariatric Surgery. After a gastric sleeve the hospital stay is about 24 hours, after a gastric bypass about 48 hours, and you should plan to stay in Athens for at least 7 days after surgery. Before you fly home you have a fit-to-fly review and receive a full written report and a follow-up plan for the first two years.

Step by step

From your first message to two years after surgery

1. Before you travel

You send your history and any previous tests, endoscopy reports or operation notes. We talk by video call, decide together whether surgery is right for you and which operation, and plan the dates.

2. In Athens

Pre-operative assessment, then surgery at Metropolitan General hospital. About 24 hours in hospital after a sleeve, 48 hours after a bypass. You are up and walking, and drinking fluids, on the day of surgery.

3. Before you fly

At least 7 days after surgery, a review in person confirms you are fit to fly. You leave with blood-thinning injections and advice to reduce the risk of clots during the journey.

4. Back home

Follow-up by video call for the first two years, with blood tests that you can arrange locally.

Follow-up

Your two-year follow-up plan

When	How	What
Day 7	In person, in Athens	Wound check and fit-to-fly review
10 days	Video call	Recovery, diet stage, medication
1 month	Video call	Diet progress, supplements
3 months	Video call	Blood tests
6 months	Video call	Blood tests
12 months	Video call	Blood tests
18 months	Video call	Weight, diet and symptoms review
24 months	Video call	Blood tests and long-term plan

After weight loss surgery, UK guidelines (BOMSS) recommend lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements and at least yearly blood tests. After two years we agree with you how this continues.

Your handover pack

What you take home

Before you leave Athens you receive, in English:

discharge summary and operation note
list of medication and supplements, with doses
diet stages for the first weeks
your follow-up schedule and blood test plan
warning signs and what to do
how to contact us

Your doctor at home

Working with your GP

With your consent, I send a full report to your GP or specialist at home, so that they know exactly what was done.

Your GP is not obliged to take over the specialist follow-up of an operation done abroad, and you should not rely on that. The follow-up plan stays with us. Many GPs are willing to help with routine blood tests, and we will work with yours if they are.

If something goes wrong

Warning signs and emergencies

Serious complications after weight loss surgery are uncommon, but they need prompt treatment where you are, not a flight back to Athens.

Go to the nearest emergency department if you have

fever, or abdominal pain that is getting worse
a fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
chest pain, or pain or swelling in one calf
vomiting that does not stop, or you cannot keep fluids down

Then

show the doctors your discharge summary and operation note
contact us as soon as you can
we will speak with the doctors treating you, if they wish

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I fly home a few days after surgery?

Please plan for at least 7 days in Athens after surgery. You fly only after the fit-to-fly review.

Should someone travel with me?

Yes, we recommend travelling with a companion, both for the journey and for the first days after surgery.

Do you speak English?

Yes. You speak directly with your surgeon, in English, from the first video call to the end of follow-up.

Which tests should I send before the video call?

Any recent blood tests, endoscopy reports, scans and, if you have had previous surgery, the operation note. If you have none, we will tell you what is needed.

Next step

Start with a video consultation

Send us your details and any previous tests, and I will contact you to arrange a video call.

Book a consultation