A London surgeon is pioneering a "scarless" operation in which patients' organs can be removed through their belly button.

Paraskevas Paraskeva, 39, was the first surgeon in Britain to perfect the procedure and is training other NHS surgeons.

Using the Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery technique, Mr Paraskeva can remove an appendix or gall bladder without leaving a scar. Normally the organs are taken out using keyhole surgery, which leaves four small scars on the torso. Some hospitals still use traditional operations, leaving large scars.

Mr Paraskeva, who works at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, said: "Keyhole surgery transformed the way we operate but it was first used to remove a gall bladder 25 years ago. We should be evolving further." He has carried out 80 such operations since last May.

The surgeon makes a 10mm incision into the belly button and inserts a "single access port", through which instruments and a small camera can be fed.

Once the patient's abdomen is slightly inflated for better access, a bag is inserted. The organ is placed inside, and the bag is pulled out of the belly button, which is stitched up afterwards.

Clancy Childs, 30, of Maida Vale, had his gall bladder removed using the surgery at St Mary's. The Google engineer took just one day off work and has no scar.

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