Electrosurgery involves the use of a high-frequency electrical current on biological tissue during surgical or outpatient procedures. Electro surgery has two distinct advantages over conventional surgical or outpatient procedures.
This surgery is a modern treatment wherein the surgeon uses instruments that pass an electrical current to cut through the skin and tissue. It can make precise cuts and reduce blood loss considerably. More so, electrosurgery is are more preferred than traditional incisions due to fast recovery time.
Development of the first commercial electro surgical device is credited to Dr. William T. Bovie, who worked on it from 1914 to 1927 while employed at Harvard University. Over the years a variety of highly efficient and sophisticated electrosurgical devices have been developed.
Procedures of Electrosurgery
With the state-of-the art electro surgical devices the following electro surgical and outpatient procedures are possible:
This surgical procedure is a fast and simple process wherein the surgeon uses a needle-shaped electrode to deliver electric currents, heats precise skin areas. This is effective in stopping bleeding while removing noncancerous growths, as well as skin cancer when combined with a curette.
Electro fulguration, similar to electro desiccation, utilises a single electrode to bring about high voltage and low amperage current, which accumulates in the patient with minimal tissue damage.
Moreover, electrofulguration is used to treat skin tags and protruding wart lesions such as viral warts. It produces a spark or electric arc once 1-2 mm away for one’s skin surface. As a result, the procedure leaves superficial tissue dehydration and carbonisation over a wide area.
Electrolysis is the procedure of removing individual hairs from the face and body by using chemical or heat energy to destroy the growth centre of the hair. A very thin probe is inserted into the hair follicle and is followed by hair removal using tweezers.
Electrolysis can be conducted on the face, eyebrows, thighs, abdomen, legs, and breasts. Its side effects may include slight reddening of the skin.
This surgical treatment is most effective in destroying perianal, anal, and genital warts. It utilises a current of low-voltage, moderately damped, high amperage to perform deeper tissue destruction. Electro coagulation requires an epinephrine-containing local anaesthetic to control the patient’s blood loss.
Electro section is a surgical treatment that involves skin incision or excision in treating conditions such as benign incisions and skin-flap incisions. This technique involves rapid and effortless excision and incision. One of its major benefits is the rapid hemostasis that occurs at the time of incision.
Benefits of Electrosurgery
There is a wide range of skin and other conditions that can be treated by the procedures listed. They are skin tags, small facial tumours, angiomas, telangiectasias, warts, seborroeic keratosis and syringoma.
Various clinics and some consultant dermatologists in Singapore now apply electrosurgical procedures. As technology advances, electrosurgery is gradually replacing traditional tools in incision such as scalpel due to its safety and precision. Moreover, the wounds are cauterised during surgery, leading to a reduced risk of hemorrhages and swift healing.
During electrosurgery large lesions may require the use of local anaesthesia. However, it does not require heavy anaesthesia, which makes it ideal for cosmetic surgery in Singapore and delicate processes, such as eye surgery.
To prevent unintended burns, the skin is cleaned and a conductive gel is used to enhance contact. Post treatment care is very minimal and basic, and only requires washing the area involved with soap and water and the application of an antibiotic ointment.
