Balitsaris Efstathios

Plastic Surgeon, MD, FEBOPRAS

Stathis Balitsaris graduated from the medical school of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2005 and completed his residency in Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the General State Hospital of Athens in 2017. He focused his training on reconstructive surgery after the resection of facial and trunk tumors, microsurgical breast reconstruction, burn reconstruction, melanoma surgery, and aesthetic plastic surgery. He later obtained the European board certification title of EBOPRAS after examinations in Brussels and Oxford.

In 2020, he extended his experience through a fellowship from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) in Cologne, Germany, specializing in aesthetic procedures of the face and body (facelifts, blepharoplasty, liposculpting, lipoedema, etc.). In 2019, he also trained in advanced 3D imaging and printing applications in plastic surgery in Leuven, Belgium, enhancing his skills in personalized aesthetic breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, and mastopexy), breast reconstruction, rhinoplasty and mandibular reconstruction.

His clinical interests include microsurgical breast reconstruction, microsurgical reconstruction after facial nerve paralysis, and body aesthetic surgery after massive weight loss. Notably, he has clinical experience in blepharoplasty and lateral brow lift, maximizing aesthetic and functional outcomes.

He actively participates in international conferences, presenting research and innovative surgical practices.

Recent Presentations at International Conferences:

• XIII Congress of the World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (2025, Barcelona, Spain): “Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction and Symmetrization in a Single Procedure Using 3D Printing.”
• 14th Panhellenic Congress in Plastic Surgery (2022, Thessaloniki): “Blepharoplasty and Lateral Brow Lift: Functional and Aesthetic Results.”
• 2nd Mediterranean Conference of Plastic Surgery Innovations (2024, Athens): Techniques for Reanimation of the Face in patients with Facial Nerve Paralysis.
• 12th ERC and 34th EURAPS Congress (2024, Athens): Which is better? Microsurgical or implant-based breast reconstruction.
• 10th ERC and 32nd EURAPS Congress (2022, Naples, Italy): Patient Selection Method for Immediate Breast Reconstruction with Implants. Anterior or Posterior to the Pectoralis Major Muscle?

He maintains private practice in Athens and Sparta. He is a member of the Hellenic Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS), and Fellow of ISAPS.

2005: Degree of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine

2017: Specialty in Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, General State Hospital of Athens “G. Gennimatas” - Department of Plastic Surgery - Microsurgery - Burns Unit - Reference Centre for Melanoma

2018: European Board Certification: EBOPRAS (Brussels, Belgium and Oxford, United Kingdom)

Fellowship Program of ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), Cologne, Germany - 2020

• Specialized in facial plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery procedures (facelift, mid-facelift), aesthetic blepharoplasty, and reconstructive blepharoplasty (including blepharoptosis, brow ptosis, lagophthalmos, entropion, and scleral show) at a reference center plastic surgery clinic for reconstruction of exophthalmos caused by Graves’ disease under the former president of ISAPS, Dr. Richter. 
• Additional training in extended liposuction for patients with lipoedema and body contouring reconstruction after massive weight loss (abdominoplasty, belt lipectomy, brachioplasty, thigh lift, breast lift).

3D Printing & Imaging in Plastic Surgery, Leuven, Belgium - 2019

• Training in advanced applications in reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery operations (breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, rhinoplasty, breast reconstruction after mastectomy with symmetrization of the other breast, mandibular reconstruction using free fibula free flap).

• European Course in Plastic Surgery (ECPS), September 2019, Oxford, UK
• Hands-on Icon BioMed Workshop (BTX, Hyaluronic Acid, PDO Threads), July 2017, Athens, Greece
• Hands-on Workshop on Living Tissue - 15th Educational Seminar on Microsurgery by Hellenic Society of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (HESPRAS), October 2016, Experimental Research & Training Center (ELPEN), Pikermi, Attica, Greece
• From A to Ω in Acute Burn Treatment (Faculty Member Certification), March 2015, Athens, Greece – Burns and Fire Disasters Academy of the Euro-Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC)
• Integra Skin Days Course, March 2015, Athens, Greece – Euro-Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC)
• International Hands-On Course in Breast Reconstruction with Autologous Tissues: Dissection in Living Tissue, March 2014, Experimental Research & Training Center (ELPEN), Pikermi, Attica, Greece – International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS)
• Principles & Techniques in Maxillofacial Trauma, Cancer, and Aesthetics, February 2014, Athens, Greece – International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS)
• Mandible Fracture Treatment and Orthognathic Surgery Hands-on Workshop, February 2014, Experimental Research & Training Center (ELPEN), Pikermi, Attica, Greece
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course, January 2008, Mediterraneo Hospital – Hellenic Chapter of the American College of Surgeons
• Seminar on First Aid under Poor Conditions, November 2007, Limeni, Laconia, Greece – First Surgical Clinic of the University of Athens

April 2019 – Present: Metropolitan Hospital
Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery – Reconstructive Microsurgery and Aesthetic Surgery

2018: Henry Dunant Hospital Center
Attending Consultant in Plastic Surgery

Trainer / Faculty, 1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery – Athens Medical School, University Hospital “Attikon”
1st International External Fixation Course on Orthoplastic Lower Extremity Reconstruction
May 31 – June 4, 2022

Author, Chapter in Clinical Scenarios in Reconstructive Microsurgery
Edited by Andreas Gravvanis, Despoina Kakagia, and Venkat Ramakrishnan – Published by Springer
Title: DIEP Flap in Slim Patients

Epidemiological Trends in the Diagnosis of Melanoma in a Southern European Population: Analysis of a large database from a tertiary referral center.
Tsoutsos, D., Papadopoulos, S., Kehagias, G., Marra, A., Kyriopoulou, E., Karonidis, A., Spiliopoulos, K., Balitsaris, E., Karapiperis, G., Panayotou, P., Papaliodi, E., Choreftaki, Th., Papaxoinis, G., Benopoulou, O., Ioannovich, J., Gogas, H. 
Melanoma Research, August 2018; 28(4):348-358. DOI: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000456, PMID: 29762190

Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer in a Low-Volume Institution
Lampropoulos, P., Vezakis, A., Paschalidis, N., Balitsaris, E., Zizi-Sermpetzoglou, A., Hadjimarcou, A., Rizos, S.
Journal of BUON, Apr-Jun 2012; 17(2):299-303, PMID: 22740209

XIII Congress of the World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery
April 23 – 26, 2025, Barcelona, Spain
– Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction and Symmetrization in a Single-Stage Procedure Using 3D Printing

29th Joint Conference of the Hellenic Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery and the Hellenic Society of Hand Surgery and Upper Limb
September 4 – 7, 2024
– Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction and Symmetrization in a Single-Stage Procedure Using 3D Printing
– Microsurgical Reconstruction of Skin and Soft Tissue of the Knee

2nd Mediterranean Conference of Plastic Surgery Innovations
August 31 – September 2, 2024, Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Greece
– Facial Reanimation with Masseter Nerve–Innervated Free Gracilis Muscle Transfer in Established Facial Palsy Patients: Patient Reported Outcomes
– Which Breast Side is the Finest? Microsurgical vs Implant-Based Reconstruction

12th and 34th EURAPS Annual Meeting
May 29 – June 1, 2024, Athens, Greece
– Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction and Symmetrization in a Single-Stage Procedure Using 3D Printing
– Facial Reanimation with Masseter Nerve–Innervated Free Gracilis Muscle Transfer in Established Facial Palsy Patients: Patient Reported Outcomes

14th Panhellenic Congress in Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
October 19 – 22, 2022, Thessaloniki, Greece
– Upper Blepharoplasty and Lateral Brow Lift: Functional and Aesthetic Results
– Case Presentation: Breast Implant Associated - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) Case in Greece. Our Experience.

10th EURAPS Research Council and 32nd EURAPS Annual Meeting
May 25 – 28, 2022, Naples, Italy
– Which Breast Side is the Finest? Microsurgical vs Implant-Based Reconstruction
– Patient Selection for Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Direct to Implant Immediate Breast Reconstruction

6th Forum Diet – Health – Beauty
October 23 – 24, 2021, Zappeion Megaron, Athens
– Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – What We Offer

9th World Congress of Melanoma & 14th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research
October 18 – 21, 2017, Brisbane, Australia
– Epidemiological Trends in the Diagnosis of Melanoma in a Southern European Population: Analysis of a Large Database from a Tertiary Referral Center

28th Panhellenic Surgical Conference and International Surgical Forum
November 2012
– Severe Necrotizing Infection of the Groin: Case Presentation
– Application of Vacuum Assisted – Negative Pressure System in a Necrotizing Infection of the Thigh: Case Presentation

10th Conference of Surgical Society of Northern Greece
December 2011, Thessaloniki
– Primary Intestinal Volvulus in an Adult Patient: Case Presentation

12th Panhellenic Conference of Surgical Infections
November 2011, Athens
– Severe Necrotizing Infection of the Hand and Upper Limb Extended to the Thoracic Cavity in a HIV Patient: Case Presentation

• Member of the Hellenic Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (HESPRAS)
• Fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS)
• Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)