Curettage and Cautery of Lesions

Curettage and cautery is a type of electrosurgery where a skin lesion is scraped off, and then heat is applied to the skin’s surface to seal the blood vessels and stop any bleeding.

At Welbeck, curettage and cautery involves the following:

1. To begin, your consultant will mark out the lesion and cleanse the area with an antiseptic solution.

2. Then they’ll inject some local anaesthetic into the area around the lesion so you don’t feel any pain. 

3. Your consultant will scrape off the skin lesion with a curette, which is like a small spoon with very sharp edges.

4. Once removed, this lesion will be sent to the pathology lab for analysis. The wound will then be heated with a pencil-like metal instrument, which applies a high-frequency electric current to the area. This helps prevent bleeding and removes any remaining unwanted tissue.

5. Steps 3 and 4 may be repeated 2 to 3 times, depending on the type and size of the skin lesion.

6. A dressing will be applied to the treated skin.

Curettage and cautery is a safe, quick, and effective treatment, but as with all types of surgery, there may be some side effects, such as:

• a risk of infection – but this is low

• bleeding after surgery – but applying pressure to the wound is usually enough to stop any further bleeding

• scarring – this varies from person to person, but outcomes are usually good. The wound may look red at first, but it’ll usually reduce in colour and size over time

• hypertrophic and keloid scarring – it’s more likely if the skin lesion being treated is found on your chest or shoulder, and if you have darker skin

There’s no specific preparation needed for curettage and cautery of skin lesions.

You’ll be able to go home on the same day as your surgery, but the wound will feel tender once the anaesthetic wears off, so avoid any vigorous exercise for 24 hours.

Healing times can vary depending on:

• any medications you’re taking

• if you have diabetes 

• if you’re obese

• if you smoke

• the size and location of the lesion – small lesions on the upper limb or trunk of healthy patients can heal in 2 to 4 weeks, but larger wounds on elderly patients, especially on the legs, tend to take much longer

Within a week of having your surgery, you’ll have a follow-up consultation with your dermatologist to discuss your results. Sometimes, if extra tests are needed, this can take longer.

Please contact the Skin Health centre or Surgery Centre for pricing.

At Welbeck, our dermatologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

To book a curettage and cautery procedure, you’ll need an initial consultation with one of our dermatologists. Please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.