Electrocautery is a method using electricity for removal of various unwanted skin lesions. A very mild strength of electricity is used to heat the needle which will cut out lesions from the surface of the skin.
Which skin lesions can be removed with EC?
Electrocautery is commonly used to remove benign lesions on the surface of the skin such as warts, skin tags and seborrheic keratosis. It can also be used to control bleeding on the surface of the skin following shave biopsy or curettage.
What does the procedure involve?
The procedure is very simple and takes less than 20 minutes. The lesion and the area around the skin will be numbed with local anaesthesia which will cause a slight discomfort. After few second a tool with a needle tip is used to cut out the lesion from the skin. The tool can also be used to stop any bleeding on the surface of the skin following the procedure. After the procedure, the wound is covered with a small bandage. You will be given information on wound care by the team.
What are the side effects with EC?
Mild pain during the local anesthesia injection is common. Rarely, bleeding during the procedure can occur. However, it can easily be controlled with compression. You should not forget to inform your doctor, if you are on blood-thinning agents such as aspirin or warfarin.