Electrodessication and curettage is a surgical method that combines cutting and electrocautery. It can be used to remove cancerous and non-cancerous tumors close to the skin. The target skin growth is removed by scraping it with a curette (a surgical instrument) followed by electrosurgery to cauterize the surrounding tissue to prevent extensive bleeding. The advantage of electrosurgery is that bleeding stops very quickly because the cut areas are burned. This often results in less scarring.