Gastric Band Barcelona, Spain

Aida Masdeu has been the clinical co-ordinator for 3/5 of my gender-affirming operations, and I followed her founding Safe Rebirth for my most recent voice masculinization surgery (Type 3 Thyroplasty). This isn't through having a bad experience with any other co-ordinators, it's just that Aida is so damn good at what she does that after meeting her that I instantly trusted her with the future of my medical transition. If you're reading this and are interested in step-by-step of my Safe Rebirth experience I'll include this below, but please know that Safe Rebirth completely understands that gender-affirming surgeries aren't something clinical to 'just get done', and they don't treat these life-changing procedures as anything mundane (as you'll see a lot in England). Aida and Oscar are legendary-level allies, celebrating trans joy with the community. You can absolutely feel the love in their labour. Thank you so so much to the team for helping me to finally see myself after six years of struggling <3 When you've decided on a surgeon, Aida will liaise with the clinic. My initial consultation was done over Whatsapp with Aida translating if there are any communication barriers. I had my own questions prepped, but she had queries about my welfare and comfortability that I hadn't even thought of. You have the freedom to request a certain month, and they'll get back to you with available dates and payment information. I cannot stress enough that if even if Aida herself isn't nursing you, she WILL take care of you! She would always check in to make sure the clinic were communicating with me fully and transparently, that I was being offered the post-op therapies that I needed and paid for, and how I was feeling counting down towards the operation. She even checked in with me when I landed at the airport and again at the hotel, helping me navigate public transport in cases where I was unsure. I was travelling alone, but even at opposite ends of Spain Aida was making sure I was safe. I booked a hotel that Oscar recommended, and even though I paid for my room I still felt like I was being spoilt. Perfect location to walk to the hospital, the beach, the old town - it was honestly like a holiday. The staff there were also incredibly accommodating when I couldn't speak for the second half of my stay. Oscar gave me some recommendations of things to see tailored to my interests like art galleries and museums, and they were places I wouldn't have found on my own! The pre-op appointment, operation, and post-op recovery? Easy. If it's weird to say the experience has been enjoyable, then maybe I'm a total weirdo. All medical staff I've met in Spain are so friendly, assured, and relaxed - you're really put into good hands with the clinics you're offered. Aida would keep in communication until discharge, again to see you home safely, and now two weeks post-op we're still sharing in the excitement of how my voice is developing. Getting estimates, deciding on where to stay, knowing how to travel, struggling with language barriers, knowing what clinics are trustworthy, feeling anxious or unsure or even scared of what to expect, circumstances of being unable to trust anyone to rely on when going through such vulnerable yet monumental changes - all become non-issues with Safe Rebirth, and it's a service providing such needed compassion along the way too. I've done it on my own, I've done it through other services, but Safe Rebirth ensured that this huge moment in my life was stress-free and a happy experience :)