Surgeons at UC San Diego Medical Center said they have successfully performed what is believed to be a first-of-its kind surgery -- the removal of a diseased appendix through the mouth.

The clinical trial procedure took place on Wednesday, according to UCSD.

Dr. Santiago Horgan performed the "scarless surgery" on Jeff Scholz, 42, according to hospital officials. The procedure, called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery, or NOTES, involves placing the surgical instruments and a tiny camera, through a natural orifice, such as the mouth, to perform the surgery.

"Only one small incision to insert a small camera in the belly button was required to complete the surgery versus three incisions required for a laparoscopic procedure," said Horgan. "The patient was discharged 20 hours after surgery."

Scholz said one day after surgery, he was experiencing a '2' on a scale of 1 to 10 for pain.

"I had to have my appendix removed and the opportunity to participate in something so innovative sounded enticing," he said.

"The purpose of this clinical trial is to test more 'patient-focused' techniques for minimally invasive surgery," said Dr. Mark A. Talamini, professor and chair of the department of surgery.

UC San Diego Medical Center is first U.S.-based hospital to perform this procedure. India is the only other country to have performed such an operation.