Electrocautery

Electrocautery is the process of destroying tissue by using electricity. It is a safe procedure and is routinely used in surgery to burn unwanted or harmful tissue. 

Electrocautery is used for particularly large and annoying tissues like viral warts. Under a local anaesthetic, the growth is pared away and the base burned by electrocautery. The wound heals in about two weeks.

It is done using a small probe, which has an electric current running through it, to cauterize (i.e burn or destroy) the tissue. It is also effectively used to reduce or stop hemorrhaging by "burning" the bleeding blood vessels (seals them off). 
Various types, shapes, and sizes of tips (probes) are available for specific treatments. A small electrode is applied to the skin near the surgery site. This is used to collect the electricity from the body and safely discharge it back to the machine. A grounding pad is placed on the person's body (usually the thigh) before the surgery starts, in order to protect the patient.