British doctors are seeking approval from a hospital panel this week to perform a groundbreaking operation – the world's first full face transplant.

Within the past year, two patients – one in France and the other in China – have undergone partial-face transplants. No doctor has yet performed a full-face transplant.

Surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, however, are hoping to be the first. The doctors say they are ready to perform the complicated surgery but are still looking for a suitable patient.

“We have seen just under 30 people with severe facial injuries, but none of those is in the final assessment program. There are many more people to see,” said a spokesman for the team of surgeons.

Patients disfigured by burns, accidents, or diseases could have a chance at a normal life with the controversial procedure, said Peter Butler, the surgeon who is leading the British team.

The hospital's committee plans to meet tomorrow to discuss the psychological and ethical implications of the procedure. It could take months before a decision is reached and more hearings may be needed once the proper candidate for the procedure has been selected.