Thermocoagulation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses electric current to heat and damage cells in a localized area, with applications in cosmetic surgery, pain management, and cancer treatment. The procedure is safe and controlled by a trained physician.
Thermocoagulation is a procedure that causes localized tissue damage by exposing tissue to an electric current, with the current creating heat that damages individual cells in the area of interest. Basically, in thermocoagulation, the cells are cooked with the current, compromising their function and causing their death. There are numerous applications for thermocoagulation, ranging from cosmetic surgery to cancer management. This procedure is done by a doctor who has been trained in how to do it safely and can be done in a hospital or clinic that has the appropriate equipment.
In thermocoagulation, a small amount of current is introduced into the area of interest. The current is confined to a limited region, ensuring that tissue damage caused by the thermocoagulation procedure is limited and under the control of the physician performing the procedure. The procedure is minimally invasive and has few side effects, making it a popular alternative to other options. The use of chemicals, for example, can cause more general damage if the chemicals spread beyond the area in which they are used.
In cosmetic surgery, thermocoagulation is commonly used in the treatment of filamentous veins or varicose veins. The treatment will remove the redness of the skin, along with the fine pattern of veins found on the face or legs of many older adults that some people find aesthetically unappealing. Thermocoagulation is also used in pain management. In a thermocoagulation neurotomy, signals from specific nerves are interrupted so that the patient no longer feels pain. This procedure is mainly used in the treatment of back pain that has not responded to other treatment methods.
Thermocoagulation can also be used in a sympathectomy, in which a sympathetic nerve is severed. This can be used to treat issues like facial flushing and sweaty palms. The risks of a sympathectomy include severing the wrong nerve, leading to unintentional nerve damage that can inhibit other physical functions and hinder a patient’s quality of life. Some cancers can also be treated with thermocoagulation, with the procedure killing the cancer cells so they can’t reproduce.
Regardless of the procedure used for treatment, the doctor proceeds with care to ensure that heat exposure is tightly controlled and ends up in the right targeted area. Clinicians can use patient feedback to determine placement, providing patients with a low level of stimulation that feels like a slight tingling to confirm that the probe being used is placed in the appropriate position.
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