Many benign skin lesions, although harmless, may cause self-consciousness or feel bothersome. Fine wire diathermy can remove various benign lesions, including milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, and other superficial concerns.
Fine wire diathermy uses a controlled electrical current delivered through a fine needle to treat skin lesions. The current generates heat at the point of contact, destroying or removing targeted tissue while leaving surrounding skin largely unaffected.
Its precision enables treatment of very small lesions with careful control over depth and extent, making it suitable for superficial concerns without affecting deeper skin layers.
The procedure is usually performed with local anaesthesia for comfort and is typically quick, often lasting only a few minutes depending on the number and size of lesions. Most people can resume normal activities shortly after treatment.
Fine wire diathermy uses a controlled electrical current delivered through a fine needle to treat skin lesions. The current generates heat at the point of contact, destroying or removing targeted tissue while leaving surrounding skin largely unaffected.
Its precision enables treatment of very small lesions with careful control over depth and extent, making it suitable for superficial concerns without affecting deeper skin layers.
The procedure is usually performed with local anaesthesia for comfort and is typically quick, often lasting only a few minutes depending on the number and size of lesions. Most people can resume normal activities shortly after treatment.
Fine wire diathermy is an effective treatment for removing a variety of benign skin lesions. This precise method allows us to target specific areas with minimal impact on surrounding skin, making it ideal for small, superficial growths that can be removed quickly with minimal scarring. Fine wire diathermy can treat many benign skin lesions, such as:
We assess each lesion during consultation to confirm diathermy is the right approach. For certain lesions, we may recommend alternative treatments to ensure the safest and most effective outcome.
Fine wire diathermy offers effective removal of benign skin lesions with precision and minimal scarring. This targeted approach allows us to treat small, superficial growths quickly, with most people resuming normal activities shortly after. Before recommending treatment, we take time to understand what concerns you and assess each lesion to confirm diathermy is the right approach. This helps us determine the most appropriate technique for your skin and desired outcome.
Fine wire diathermy reaches different skin depths, helping to improve both surface texture concerns and deeper issues like scars and wrinkles for more comprehensive skin renewal.
Fine wire diathermy can help improve the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, acne scars, sun damage, and uneven texture. This versatility makes it suitable for people with various skin concerns seeking overall improvement.
The treatment works by prompting your skin to produce its own collagen and elastin, supporting your skin’s natural rebuilding process from within. This approach leads to gradual improvement in skin quality and firmness over time.
Unlike more intensive treatments, fine wire diathermy involves a relatively short recovery time. Most people experience mild redness and can return to their usual activities within a few days.
Results develop progressively over several weeks to months as your skin heals and renews itself, creating subtle enhancement rather than sudden change. Improvement continues with each session in a treatment series.
This treatment may be appropriate for various skin tones and types when performed by experienced dermatologists. Your treatment is customised to your specific skin characteristics and concerns.
We begin with a consultation and assessment to confirm your lesions are benign and suitable for diathermy. From there, we’ll discuss the procedure, what to expect during treatment, and how your skin will heal afterwards.
In the week leading up to your appointment, avoid blood-thinning supplements unless medically necessary and minimise sun exposure. On the day, arrive with clean skin. Always inform us of any medications you’re taking that might affect healing, recent illnesses, or changes in your health since your consultation.
During treatment, we cleanse the area and apply local anaesthetic for comfort. A fine wire then delivers controlled electrical current to remove or destroy the lesion while preserving surrounding skin. Treatment typically takes only minutes, though multiple lesions may require a longer session. Afterwards, the treated area may appear red or form a small scab for a few days. Most people resume normal activities immediately.
If benign skin lesions are causing you concern, irritation, or discomfort, book a consultation at South Yarra Dermatology to discuss whether fine wire diathermy is right for you.
Different removal techniques suit different lesions.
Fine wire diathermy offers precision, speed, minimal equipment needs, and good control over treatment depth. It often achieves favourable cosmetic results for appropriate lesions.
The best approach depends on the type, size, and location of the lesion, as well as individual factors. During consultation, we discuss which method is most appropriate for your skin concerns.
Discomfort varies depending on the size and location of the lesions and whether local anaesthesia is used.
For small or superficial lesions, the sensation may be a brief stinging or warmth that many find tolerable without anaesthesia. For larger or more sensitive areas, local anaesthetic is used to ensure comfort. The injection causes a short sting, but once it takes effect, the treatment itself is usually painless.
After the procedure, mild tenderness similar to a small abrasion may occur for a day or two, but significant pain is uncommon. Most people describe the procedure as brief and easily manageable.
The length of treatment depends on the number and size of lesions. Removing a single small lesion can take only a few minutes, while treating several may take 15 to 30 minutes including preparation, anaesthesia, and aftercare. The actual application of diathermy to each lesion lasts only seconds. If many lesions are present, multiple sessions may be scheduled to ensure comfort and allow gradual healing.
No. Diathermy is suitable for many superficial benign lesions but not for all growths. It is commonly effective for milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, skin tags, some seborrhoeic keratoses, cherry angiomas, dermatosis papulosa nigra, small fibrous papules, and certain superficial warts. Lesions that are large, deeply rooted, pigmented in an unusual way, changing, or otherwise suspicious may require surgical excision or biopsy so tissue can be examined histologically.
Keep the area clean and dry. Gentle cleansing with mild soap and water is appropriate. Apply any recommended ointment as directed and protect wounds with dressings if advised. Avoid picking at scabs; allow them to fall off naturally to reduce scarring risk. Protect the area from sun exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen once the skin has re-epithelialised. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, or heavy sweating for a few days if practical. Contact your clinician if you notice increasing redness, discharge, worsening pain, or other signs of infection.
Healing times vary. Small superficial lesions may appear essentially healed within one to two weeks, while larger or deeper treated areas can take several weeks to fully re-epithelialise. Final cosmetic appearance may continue to improve over months, particularly for pigmentation or textural changes. Individual healing characteristics influence the timeline.
An individual treated lesion will not recur at that exact location once removed. However, the tendency to develop similar lesions remains, so new lesions may appear in other areas over time. Repeat treatments may be needed to address newly formed lesions; this reflects the natural behaviour of the skin rather than treatment failure.
Some degree of marking is possible. Small superficial lesions commonly heal with minimal visible change, while larger or deeper treatments may leave slight depressions, elevations, or persistent pigmentation differences. The risk and visibility of scarring depend on lesion size, treatment depth, skin type, and individual healing patterns. Following aftercare instructions and protecting the area from sun reduces the risk of unwanted pigmentation.
Yes, multiple lesions are often treated in a single visit. The number treated depends on lesion count, location, anaesthesia requirements, and the patient’s comfort. For extensive numbers of lesions, staged sessions may be recommended to limit procedure time and healing burden.
