Dr George Balalis

This is George. Our relaxed, approachable and very determined surgeon.

Unsurprisingly, George’s passion lies in performing surgery and working with people to help them achieve their weight loss goals. Though he views surgery as a huge responsibility, he also sees it as a great honour when people place their trust in his care. George was initially drawn to surgery early in his medical career through exceptional surgical mentors who showed him the rapid ability of surgery to affect positive change in people’s health and wellbeing.

Though he is best known as a bariatric surgeon with advanced skills in laparoscopic primary and revision weight loss surgeries, he’s also an upper GI and General Surgeon known for complex hiatus hernia repairs and reflux surgery.

George feels strongly about the importance of formal training when it comes to weight loss surgery and truly believes that the best training comes from a broad exposure to highly skilled, high-volume, world experts. This ethos has seen George travel extensively over the years training both interstate and overseas (including time in Brisbane, Melbourne, The United Kingdom and the Netherlands).

In addition to his extensive and ongoing training with many industry leaders, George frequently publishes peer-reviewed journals and lectures at the University of Adelaide. He also actively participates in numerous industry bodies and associations, ensuring his skills and practice evolve to reflect the latest international standards and industry insights. But George also believes that learning should never cease, and takes great pride in providing his patients with the safest and most up-to-date technologies and surgeries from around the globe.

Of his many career achievements, George is particularly proud to have completed a Masters of Philosophy (Surgery) in Oesophageal Cancer through the Professorial Upper GI Unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital. George has also received three prestigious grants from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons over the years, including his most recent, allowing him to immerse himself in Robotic Oesophago-gastric surgery with world-leading surgical innovators in the Netherlands.

When not at work, George enjoys spending time with his wife and their three young and busy boys—all under the age of six. He feels fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive family and, on weekends, enjoys doing the things they love such as leisurely breakfasts, sporting activities, or playing in the park. Having young boys, George has constructed his fair share of Lego but when he has a moment to himself, you’ll usually find George with his head in a book or on the phone with a colleague discussing the finer points of a new skill or technique. And, you might be surprised to learn that George has a somewhat irrational fear of birds?!?

Qualifications/Education: