Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
Get started today
Book a Consultation
What Does Hyfrecation Feel Like: Minimal Discomfort Explained
What does hyfrecation feel like? Hyfrecation, a precise electrosurgery for benign skin lesions like skin tags, typically involves minimal sensation due to local anaesthetic. Patients experience a brief, momentary sting from the anaesthetic injection itself, similar to a mosquito bite. Once numb, the treated area feels no pain, heat, or sharpness during the procedure; at most, a light touch or pressure may be perceived. This approach ensures patient comfort and allows the consultant dermatologist to perform the removal with optimal precision.
London Skin Clinic prioritizes patient comfort and clinical precision in dermatological surgery. Our consultant-led team, including GMC-registered surgeons, utilizes local anaesthetic as standard practice for procedures like hyfrecation. This ensures a virtually painless experience and optimal outcomes for skin lesion removal.
To explore your options, contact us to schedule your consultation. You can also reach us via: Book Same-Day Skin Tag Removal
Understanding Hyfrecation: A Gentle Approach to Skin Lesion Removal
Hyfrecation is a controlled medical procedure using a low-power, high-frequency electrical current to remove skin growths. With local anaesthetic, the treatment is not painful. Patients feel a brief sting from the numbing injection, after which the area is numb. During hyfrecation, there is no sensation of heat or pain; at most, a patient might feel a light touch or pressure.
What is Hyfrecation and How Does it Work?
Hyfrecation is a form of electrosurgery using a pen-like device with a fine-tipped electrode to deliver a precise electrical current to the lesion. This current dehydrates and destroys the tissue, causing it to separate from the skin without cutting or stitches. The device’s precision allows the consultant to target only the lesion, preserving surrounding skin and minimizing scarring.
The Primary Goal: Patient Comfort and Precision
Hyfrecation protocols prioritize clinical precision and patient comfort. Pain management is integral to the procedure’s success. A comfortable, still patient allows the consultant to work with accuracy, leading to better aesthetic outcomes.
What Does Hyfrecation Feel Like with Local Anaesthetic?
The use of local anaesthetic makes the procedure a simple, manageable treatment. The process is quick, and the sensations are minimal.
The Initial Sensation: A Brief, Tiny Sting
The only discomfort is typically the local anaesthetic injection. A fine needle injects a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, into the lesion’s base. Patients describe a brief sting or pinch, similar to a mosquito bite, that lasts one to two seconds. Numbing begins almost immediately, and the area is desensitised within a minute.
During the Procedure: Pressure, Not Pain
Once the anaesthetic takes effect, you will not feel pain, heat, or sharpness from the hyfrecation device. Most patients feel nothing. Some may feel the instrument’s light touch or gentle pressure, without discomfort. This numbness allows the consultant to perform the electrosurgery for skin tag removal with precision, ensuring the lesion is fully removed.
Is Local Anaesthetic Always Used for Hyfrecation?
Using local anaesthetic for hyfrecation is standard practice. While the procedure could be performed without it on very small lesions, it is highly recommended to ensure a pain-free experience and procedural accuracy.
Why Local Anaesthetic is the Gold Standard for Hyfrecation
Local anaesthetic is the gold standard because it provides reliable numbness. This eliminates pain and reduces patient anxiety. A comfortable, still patient enables the consultant to work with greater precision, improving the cosmetic result and minimizing scarring. Numbness also allows for a more thorough treatment, ensuring the lesion is removed in a single session.
Local vs. Topical Numbing: Which is Best for Your Procedure?
Topical numbing creams are not the preferred method for hyfrecation. A local anaesthetic injection provides faster, deeper, and more complete numbness. Creams only numb the skin’s surface and may not penetrate deeply enough to block sensation from the electrosurgical current, potentially causing discomfort. Injections anaesthetise the lesion’s entire depth and the surrounding area.
Managing Discomfort: Pre-Treatment Preparation and Aftercare
Proper preparation and aftercare are key to managing any minor post-treatment sensations and ensuring a smooth recovery.
Preparing for Your Hyfrecation Appointment
Before your appointment, discuss any anxieties with your consultant. Inform your doctor of any medications you take, particularly blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin. On the day of the procedure, ensure the area is clean and free of lotions.
Post-Procedure Sensations and Aftercare Tips
When the local anaesthetic wears off after a few hours, mild sensations are normal. You may notice slight tenderness, redness, or swelling at the treatment site, similar to a small scratch. A small scab will form as part of the healing process; do not pick it. Keep the area clean and dry, and apply any recommended antiseptic ointment. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol is usually sufficient for any discomfort.
Why Choose a Consultant Dermatologist for Hyfrecation?
The practitioner’s skill and experience significantly affect the outcome, safety, and patient experience. A consultant-led clinic ensures treatment by a medical expert with extensive training in dermatological surgery and pain management.
Expertise in Pain Management and Precision
Consultant plastic surgeons and dermatologists, such as those at London Skin Clinic, are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and have years of hospital-based training. This expertise is crucial for administering local anaesthetic effectively with minimal discomfort. Their understanding of skin anatomy allows them to perform the electrocautery procedure with precision, removing the lesion while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding tissue. This approach leads to faster healing and better cosmetic results.
The ‘See and Treat’ Advantage at London Skin Clinic
Our ‘See and Treat’ protocol streamlines patient care. In a single visit, you receive a full consultation, a definitive diagnosis to ensure the lesion is benign, and, if appropriate, immediate treatment. This approach is convenient and enhances comfort and safety. The same consultant who diagnoses your condition performs the removal, providing continuity of care.
Your Comfort is Our Priority: Book Your Consultation Today
With local anaesthetic administered by a consultant, hyfrecation is a well-tolerated and effective procedure with minimal discomfort. The experience is a brief sting followed by complete numbness, allowing for precise and painless lesion removal. If you have skin tags or other benign growths for assessment and removal, our team provides expert care. To learn more or to schedule your appointment, contact us. You can also Book Same-Day Skin Tag Removal with one of our consultants.
Frequently Asked Questions
To be clear, what does hyfrecation feel like with local anaesthetic?
With local anaesthetic, you should not feel any pain or heat from the hyfrecation itself. Patients typically report feeling nothing at all, or at most, a light touch or pressure from the instrument. The initial anaesthetic injection feels like a tiny, brief sting that lasts only a second, ensuring you know exactly what does hyfrecation feel like: virtually nothing.
What does hyfrecation feel like if I choose not to have local anaesthetic?
While we strongly recommend local anaesthetic for comfort, proceeding without it for a very small lesion would feel like a quick, hot prickle on the skin. This sensation is very brief, lasting only a fraction of a second per lesion. Our standard protocol is to use anaesthetic to ensure what does hyfrecation feel like is a completely painless experience.
What does hyfrecation feel like during the healing process?
After the procedure, the treated area is typically not painful and requires no specific pain medication. You might experience a slight tenderness, similar to a small scratch, for a day or two as a tiny crust forms. Understanding what does hyfrecation feel like post-treatment is important; most patients report minimal to no discomfort.
What if I am afraid of needles for the anaesthetic injection?
We understand needle phobia is common and can apply a strong topical numbing cream to the area before the injection. This significantly dulls the sensation of the very fine needle used. Our consultant surgeons are also extremely skilled at administering anaesthetic quickly and gently to minimise any discomfort.
How long does the numbing effect from the anaesthetic last?
The local anaesthetic typically keeps the area completely numb for 1 to 2 hours after the procedure. By the time this effect wears off, any initial sensitivity from the treatment has usually subsided. This ensures a comfortable immediate post-procedure experience.
How can I book a ‘See and Treat’ appointment for skin tag removal?
Booking a same-day ‘See and Treat’ appointment at our London, St Albans, or Guildford clinics is straightforward. You can schedule your consultation where a consultant surgeon will confirm the diagnosis and can perform the removal in the same visit. To book your appointment, please contact us directly through our website.
Share this Post
