Electrosurgery is the application of a high-frequency electric current to human (or other animal) tissue as a means to remove lesions, staunch bleeding, or cut tissue. Electrosurgery can be used to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or fulguratetissue. Its benefits include the ability to make precise cuts with limited blood loss.

In electrosurgerical procedures, the tissue is burned by an electrical current. Electrosurgery is different from electrocautery, in that the latter uses heat conductionfrom a hot probe whereas electrosurgery directly heats the tissue itself while the probe tip remains cold.

Electrosurgery is commonly used for such dermatological procedures as removal of skin tags, removal/destruction of benign skin tumors, and the removal of warts. It is also used to cauterizeduring hemorrhoidsurgery. It is now often preferred by dermatologists over laser surgery and cryosurgery for several procedures.