About Us
At the Obesity Unit, we deliver patient-centred care through a collaborative team of specialists, each playing a unique role at every stage of your weight-loss journey. We follow SAMMSS/SAMSA accreditation standards to ensure you receive world-class care, backed by a team with a shared mission: your long-term success.
The Team
Our expert team specializes in bariatric surgery, offering personalized care and support for lasting weight loss and better health
Dr Constantinos (Dino) Sofianos
Bariatric / Metabolic Surgeon
An internationally accredited Specialist General Surgeon with over 30 years’ experience in laparoscopic and bariatric procedures. Dr Sofianos leads surgical planning and performs sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, SADI, and revisional operations. He also collaborates in emergency bariatric care and oversees gastroscopy assessments pre-surgery.
Edith Skwatsha
Patient Navigator & Bariatric Care Co-ordinator
Edith is the heart of our bariatric program, guiding patients from start to finish. As Patient Navigator, she ensures you feel informed, supported, and cared for throughout your journey, handling everything from inquiries to post-surgical follow-ups.
Dr Despina Andreanis
Endocrinologist & Specialist Physician
Dr Andreanis plays a key role in preoperative and postoperative metabolic management. She optimises glycaemic control in diabetes, manages lipid disorders and hypertension, and monitors nutritional deficiencies after surgery. She also treats reactive hypoglycaemia and metabolic bone disease in long-term follow-up.
Registered Dieticians
Lara D’Alessio & Meagan Atcheson
Lara and Meagan guide patients through all stages of nutritional care, from the preoperative diet to long-term maintenance and supplementation. They offer practical strategies for sustained weight loss and help manage digestive symptoms, food tolerance, and micronutrient needs after surgery.
Andrea Biffi
Physiotherapist
Andrea supports patients in improving fitness, mobility, and respiratory function before and after surgery. She leads early ambulation and chest physiotherapy during hospitalisation, and creates personalised recovery and exercise plans to minimise complications and support long-term activity.
Talitha Da Costa
Clinical Psychologist
Talitha provides psychological readiness assessments before surgery and ongoing support after. Her role includes identifying emotional eating patterns, enhancing coping strategies, and helping patients adjust to the lifestyle and identity changes that often accompany major weight loss.
Dr Zoran Lovric
Anaesthesiologist
Dr Lovric specialises in anaesthesia for bariatric surgery. He ensures patient safety through detailed risk assessment, airway management, drug dosing adaptations, and careful intraoperative monitoring. His protocols are tailored to the specific challenges of obese and high-risk patients.
Prof Chrysis Sofianos
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Prof Sofianos is a skilled Plastic Surgeon specializing in post-bariatric body contouring. He customizes surgeries to remove excess skin and restore symmetry, confidence, and function, with a focus on precision and the unique needs of post-bariatric patients.
Why Our Team Matters
- Integrated care: All team members collaborate to develop your personalised treatment plan.
- Full-spectrum support: We address every aspect of obesity – medical, nutritional, psychological, surgical, and rehabilitative.
- Quality assurance: Our programme meets SAMSA accreditation standards, ensuring the highest levels of safety and clinical excellence.
Ready to Meet Us?
Visit our Johannesburg centre for a consultation or team introduction. Experience the reassurance of care delivered by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team with your health and success at the heart of everything we do.