Greek musician Mavrikios Mavrikiou revealed he underwent gastric bypass surgery in Athens after reaching a weight of 120 kilograms. Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday 22 September, the performer explained that elevated medical test results prompted his decision to have the operation for health reasons.
Mavrikiou said that only ten days had passed since the procedure took place in early September, but he had already lost ten kilograms. He noted that he began noticing a physical difference almost immediately after leaving the operating room.
Gastric bypass is a bariatric surgical procedure that alters the structure of the stomach and digestive tract to restrict food consumption and assist weight loss. Mavrikiou explained that he sought medical advice after feeling he had gained excessive weight, leading doctors to run comprehensive health tests.
Public reactions and social media comments
Before publicly detailing the exact nature of the surgery, Mavrikiou had shared a photograph on Instagram showing intravenous drips attached to his hand. He said social media users did not ask about his condition but immediately posted speculative comments, including one user asking if he had undergone gender reassignment surgery.
Addressing the comments during his appearance on the morning talk show Super Katerina, Mavrikiou called on critics to stop making assumptions about his personal health decisions. He added that the speculation began immediately after his initial post from his hospital bed.
In his initial social media update published on Wednesday 2 September, Mavrikiou expressed gratitude for the successful outcome of the operation. He stated that the difficult surgery marked a new beginning and asked well wishers for time to recover his physical strength while thanking supporters for their positive messages.
The musician publicly thanked his physician, Dr Ioannou, alongside the medical staff at Hygeia Hospital, a private healthcare facility in Athens where the operation took place. He also shared that he was looking forward to starting this new chapter in life alongside his wife Ilaira Zisi and their daughter Melodia.
Comments on Giorgos Mazonakis and theatrical collaboration
During the same broadcast, Mavrikiou addressed the death of prominent Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis. He described the singer passing as the most unfair event to occur in Greece in recent years, reflecting on their past professional interactions.
Mavrikiou revealed that in 2019 he had attempted to hire Mazonakis as the lead performer for a theatrical adaptation of Pariziana, a popular 1969 Greek comedy film. He said he contacted Mazonakis sister to negotiate terms, but the financial agreement collapsed because she made excessive monetary demands that could not be met.
Mavrikiou added that he later discovered Mazonakis was entirely unaware of the high financial terms requested by his sister during the negotiations. The collaboration never materialized, leaving the production to move forward without the singer.
