Is curettage and cautery done with an electrosurgical unit?

Curettage uses a small instrument to scrape selected tissue. Cautery then uses heat, often delivered through an electrosurgical unit, to control bleeding and treat the base. The clinician selects the technique according to the diagnosis, depth, body site and surrounding skin.

The area is commonly numbed beforehand. Afterwards, it may be tender, red, crusted or slightly swollen. Healing leaves a mark that can change over time, and colour or texture may differ from nearby skin. The removed tissue may be sent for examination when clinically appropriate.

Tell the clinician about implanted electrical devices, metal in the body, medicines affecting bleeding, allergies to local anaesthetic and any history of difficult wound healing. Follow the instructions for cleaning, ointment and dressings. Keep the wound protected and do not pull off a scab.

Avoid friction, soaking or strenuous activity when your aftercare instructions advise against them. Attend any planned review so the clinician can assess healing and discuss the result of tissue examination if one was taken.

Contact the clinic for bleeding that continues despite firm gentle pressure, increasing pain, spreading redness, pus or worsening swelling. Seek prompt care for fever or a wound that opens widely. Urgent assessment is needed for breathing difficulty, facial swelling or another sudden reaction after medication or anaesthetic.

Ask what diagnosis is being treated, whether a specimen will be examined, how the electrosurgical unit will be used, and what scar or colour change may occur. Confirm dressing changes, activity limits and the symptoms that require contact.