Using an innovative technique, doctors have surgically removed a tumour from the face of a 46-year-old cancer patient in a "scarless surgery" at a private facility here, hospital authorities claimed on 28 January.

The team of doctors approached his oral cavity by making four small holes, measuring 8 mm each, under the patient's collar bone. His cancer presented as an ulcer on the right lower cheeks and tongue, they said.

The operation was performed in December in central Delhi, led by Dr Surender Kumar Dabas, senior director & head of the department, surgical oncology & robotic surgery. Oncosurgeons performed scarless removal of the face tumour from the 46-year old patient, robotically, the hospital said in a statement. Using an innovative and novel technique for cancer treatment, doctors excised the stage-2 oral cancer tumour from his face, it added.