Dr. Carlos Ballesta Lopez

Among the most remarkable and prolific surgeons in Spain, a true pioneer of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Carlos Ballesta Lopez is a surgeon who has over a 5-decade career at the renowned Quironsalud Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona. * **Professional Background** * Years of Practice: 50+ years (since 1973) * Centro Laparoscopico Dr. Ballesta (CLB), Quironsalud Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona - the only center in Spain which is entirely devoted to the philosophy and practice of laparoscopic surgery. * Professor of Surgery, University of Barcelona; Visiting Professor at universities in Europe, Asia and the Americas; honorary doctorates and awards of international medical societies. * Specialties Laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, bariatric and metabolic surgery (morbid obesity, gastric bypass), pancreatic cancer, esophago-gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, type 2 diabetes surgery. * MD (Medicine and Surgery): University of Granada (1973); Medical Specialist in General Surgery (1977) and Gastroenterology (1979); PhD: University of Barcelona. * **Innovations and Contributions** * Has personally operated more than 12,000 laparoscopic operations in abdominal and digestive surgery -one of the highest amounts of laparoscopic surgery in own hands in Spain- and has conducted training courses in Spain and Latin America. * Centro Laparoscopico Dr. Ballesta is an IFSO (International Federation of Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders) accredited Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery - an honor granted after a demanding process of evaluation by the AEC European Accreditation Committee. * Led the first operation in Spain with ActivSight innovative laser technology, which allows real-time visualization of blood flow during complex colorectal surgery without contrast agents. * Research publications and surgical findings in major international journals such as the American Journal of Surgery and Surgical Endoscopy, as well as talks given at major international congresses. * 38 publications in the scientific literature; multiple surgical textbooks outlining laparoscopic technique, antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery, and postoperative care in laparoscopy; author and co-author. The legacy of five decades of surgical innovation, his unparalleled laparoscopy experience and his dedication to teaching the next generation of surgeons have solidly placed Dr. Ballesta Lopez as a global point of reference in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery.