Advantages and Disadvantages of Skin Tag Removal Using Electrocautery
There are many ways to remove a skin tag. If you visit a doctor or a dermatologist, there are three common methods they will use.
These methods are the following:
- Cauterization (also known as burning)
- Cryosurgery (or freezing)
- Cut with a scalpel.
Among the three methods, cauterization is probably the most common method that a doctor will use to treat such an ailment. This article explains the procedure involved in such treatment and the pros and cons of undergoing such a procedure.
Electrocautery is effective in removing the skin tag. During the procedure, it uses needles or other instruments, which are heated by electrical energy. These heated needles burn the cells of a skin tag until it is completely destroyed.
There are seven basic steps in electrocautery. The first of your basic steps is to apply anesthesia to the affected part until it is adequately numbed. The area is then thoroughly treated. If the needle is in contact with the skin tag, it causes burns to the growth cells. If the cells are already burned, the doctor removes the destroyed cells from the skin. The sample will then be taken to the laboratory for further analysis. When the whole procedure is finished, the part of the skin with marks will be covered with a bandage and the appropriate prescription will be applied to speed up the healing process. Once the skin tags have already been removed, they will stop growing any further and spread anywhere on your body.
Cauterization can be quite painful. Treating skin tags by procedures can be a bit uncomfortable, especially during the process up to the last step of the removal treatment. You would really need patience because the healing process can also take a lot of your time. This usually occurs depending on growth characteristics and the person’s ability to heal wounds.
Advantages of electrocautery treatment
One of the best benefits that a person can get from undergoing this type of skin wart removal procedure is that it is quick and considered to be a very time efficient procedure. It usually costs less compared to other surgeries like cryosurgery and laser procedures. Electrocautery may require only one treatment session unlike laser and cryosurgery, which require more follow-up treatments even for the same type of growths.
Disadvantages of electrocautery treatments
The electrocautery procedure is somewhat invasive and very painful. In fact, the pain may remain the same for days after treatment. It can cause some level of discomfort as you go on each day. As mentioned above, its healing process can take quite a long time and can possibly cause scarring afterwards. All you have to do is wait until the skin tags are completely removed.
When undergoing such treatment, there should be a qualified doctor to oversee your situation and professionally perform the entire skin tag removal procedure. However, electrocautery may not be applicable to people with heart disease and others who have low medical conditions.
But you should also be reminded to ask your doctor certain questions regarding symptoms of infections that may occur after undergoing skin tag removal treatment.
