UK can perform world's first full-face transplants

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) British surgeons have been given ethical permission to perform the world's first full-face transplants, a spokesman for the Royal Free Hospital in London said today.

The team of surgeons will be examining potential recipients and will draw up a shortlist of patients in the coming months.

''We have been given permission to go ahead with a series of four transplants,'' the spokesman, Neil Huband, told Reuters.

Surgeons in France performed the world first partial face transplant last year on Isabelle Dinoire who received a new nose, lips and chin after being savaged by a dog.

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