The Top Surgery Podcast with Ioannis Ntanos

Ioannis Ntanos

Gender affirming care for trans individuals, and top surgery in particular, often attracts a great deal of attention, despite impacting only a small percentage of the population. In this podcast, surgeon, ethicist and trans ally, Ioannis Ntanos, explores some of the misinformation around the discipline by chatting with a range of guests, from those who have experienced top surgery first hand, to experts and ethicists with an interest in the challenges posed by this underserved area of medicine. read less

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Accomplices & Allies

Accomplices & Allies

In this heartwarming episode of the Top Surgery Podcast, guests Sam (they/them) and Kat (she/her) chat about their experience as a couple. From Sam’s realisation of their gender identity to the journey of discovery that the couple has since been on including Sam’s choice of surgeon to perform their top surgery, and what the process entailed. Together, they reflect on the distinction between being an ally and accomplice and the steps we should all be taking to develop our skills in this area so that we can truly stand alongside the trans community when times get tough. Correction: at 4:48 Kat credits the book Hood Feminism as the first time she came across the differentiation between ally and accomplice. The author of the book is Mikki Kendall. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Episodes

Accomplices & Allies

Accomplices & Allies

In this heartwarming episode of the Top Surgery Podcast, guests Sam (they/them) and Kat (she/her) chat about their experience as a couple. From Sam’s realisation of their gender identity to the journey of discovery that the couple has since been on including Sam’s choice of surgeon to perform their top surgery, and what the process entailed. Together, they reflect on the distinction between being an ally and accomplice and the steps we should all be taking to develop our skills in this area so that we can truly stand alongside the trans community when times get tough. Correction: at 4:48 Kat credits the book Hood Feminism as the first time she came across the differentiation between ally and accomplice. The author of the book is Mikki Kendall. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Moving my practice to Athens: Q&A

Moving my practice to Athens: Q&A

Join leading gender affirming surgeon and ethicist Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) as he chats to colleague and producer of the show, Aby Hawker (she/her), about his plans to move his practice to Athens. In this episode, Ioannis reflects on his decade of medical experience in the UK, the challenges of working in gender affirming care in the UK and the opportunities that lie ahead for him and his patients in Greece. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Sharing international best practice

Sharing international best practice

Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) is joined by Scott Mosser (he/him), a leading gender affirming surgeon operating out of the US. The two compare their experiences serving trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming patients on both sides of the Atlantic. This episode covers how they ended up working in this space, what they have learned from the community over the years and how that has informed their practice in gender affirming care. Key words: BMI, referrals, cancer, drains, day case, reinnervation, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, revision. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

In this episode of the Top Surgery Podcast, Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) is joined by consultant dermatologist Bernard Ho (he/him) for a discussion on the key considerations when it comes to skin care before and after top surgery. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

3D Nipple Tattooing

3D Nipple Tattooing

Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) discusses the benefits of 3D nipple tattoos for trans men and non-binary patients with tattoo artist Lucy Thompson (she/her). Together, Ioannis and Lucy guide listeners through patient considerations, what is unique about nipple tattooing and the complexities of working with scar tissue. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. Find Lucy Thompson on Instagram. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Training in Trans Healthcare

Training in Trans Healthcare

In this episode of the Top Surgery Podcast, Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) is joined by junior doctor Alice Capper (she/her). The pair discuss how Alice became interested in gender affirming care, the barriers that young doctors face in terms of access to training, and the responsibilities that all medical practitioners have to confidently treat trans and non-binary patients. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. Find Alice Capper on X To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com

Patient Needs and Medical Discrimination

Patient Needs and Medical Discrimination

In this second episode taken from Ioannis Ntanos’ (he/him) top surgery masterclass, Freddy McConnell (he/him) hosts a thought-provoking panel discussion on gender affirming healthcare. Alongside several trans and non-binary guests, all of whom have first hand experience of navigating top surgery, Freddy explores the intricacies of patient need and the discrimination that often limits their access to care. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Navigating General Anaesthesia: A First Time Guide

Navigating General Anaesthesia: A First Time Guide

For many patients coming in for top surgery, this will be their first experience of general anaesthetic. In this episode Ioannis chats with consultant anaesthetist Simon Bricker (he/him) about what patients can expect, how they can prepare and what can be done to ensure they feel as comfortable as possible. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Quality of Consent in Gender Affirming Surgery

Quality of Consent in Gender Affirming Surgery

Dive into this special episode of The Top Surgery podcast with guest host Freddy McConnell (he/him). The panel was part of our Top Surgery Masterclass, a full day of training for medical professionals. Listen as leading gender affirming surgeon and ethicist Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) chats with professor of bioethics Rebecca Bennett (she/her) and journalist Freddy McConnell to explore the intricacies of informed consent in gender affirming surgery, as well as the ethical and legal challenges faced by medical practitioners in this area. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Alex: Top surgery and cancer

Alex: Top surgery and cancer

In this episode of the Top Surgery Podcast Ioannis Ntanos (he/him) shines a light on the story of returning guest Alex (he/him), who received a suspected cancer diagnosis during his top surgery consultation. Together, they discuss what happened next and what the outcomes were for Alex as he navigated this final hurdle on his journey to accessing his long-awaited gender affirming care. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Alex: Transitioning later in life

Alex: Transitioning later in life

How do age, BMI and comorbidities affect access to top surgery? In this episode, Alex (he/him) shares his experience of transitioning in his sixties with leading gender affirmation surgeon Ioannis Ntanos (he/him). Exploring Alex’s story, they discuss the value of individualised care, peer-to-peer insight, and the challenge of weight loss before surgery. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/

Nao: My experience of top surgery

Nao: My experience of top surgery

UK leading gender affirmation surgeon, Ioannis Ntanos (he/him), chats to Nao (they/them) about their personal journey to top surgery. From overcoming medical mistrust to fears of general anaesthesia, this episode explores how medical teams can work with trans patients to develop confidence and affirm their identity. Find Ioannis Ntanos on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. To find out more about top surgery, visit https://www.ioannisntanos.com/