Surgery What Is an Ablation? Procedures that remove a layer of tissue By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN LinkedIn Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 19, 2023 Medically reviewed by David Strosberg, MD Medically reviewed by David Strosberg, MD David Strosberg, MD, is board-certified in Vascular and General Surgery and is an assistant professor of surgery in Yale-New Haven Hospital's Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Division. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Surface Ablation Cardiac Ablation Endometrial Ablation Other Procedures An ablation is a medical procedure that removes a layer of tissue. In some cases, ablation destroys problem tissues. In others, it encourages tissue regrowth. Ablation can be done with surgery or with less invasive techniques, such as laser treatment. It is used to treat a variety of medical conditions, from nearsightedness to certain heart issues. It can also be used to address certain cosmetic concerns, such as uneven skin texture. This article reviews the possible uses for ablation and how each procedure is performed. Getty Images/Morsa Images/DigitalVision How Is Ablation Performed? Ablation is performed in a hospital or healthcare provider's office. It is usually minimally invasive, which means it is done with small incisions or no incisions. Depending on the procedure, the surgeon may use laser, freezing, or burning to remove the tissue. Less common types of ablation include radiation, chemicals, and microwaves. Ablation may be performed under local or general anesthetic. This means you could be awake or asleep during the procedure, depending on which type of ablation you're having. Surface Ablation Surface ablation can be performed on the skin, eye, or other superficial tissues. Many procedures are used for many different purposes. Skin Surface ablation of the skin involves the removal of a layer of tissue to: Treat discolorationImprove skin textureRemove lesions (wounds), warts, or tumors on the surface of your skin When used for cosmetic purposes to induce skin regeneration or repair, it is referred to as dermabrasion. It's typically performed by a dermatologist in a medical office. Techniques include: Laser ablation: A laser is used for superficial (surface) lesions or discoloration.Chemoablation: Topical acids are used to peel skin or remove warts.Cryoablation: Cold gases like liquid nitrogen or argon freeze the skin.Fulguration: High-frequency electrical currents remove small lesions or warts. Eye Eye laser treatments used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are another form of surface ablation. The technique, also known as Lasik surgery, removes the surface cells of the cornea. The cornea is the clear part of your eye that covers the iris and pupil and allows light into the eye. Lasik surgery can reshape the cornea to correct your vision. Eye laser treatments are performed by ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) in medical facilities. What to Expect From Lasik Ear, Nose, and Throat Surface ablation can also be applied to otolaryngologic procedures, which are those that involve the ear, nose, or throat. One procedure strips away excess soft palate tissue on the roof of your mouth to treat snoring or sleep apnea. Other procedures may be performed on the sinuses, tonsils, and thyroid nodules. Cardiac Ablation Cardiac ablation is a technique usually used to correct problems with your heart rhythm (arrhythmias). The procedure destroys heart tissue in order to block specific nerve pathways. This stops the electrical signals that trigger arrhythmias. Cardiac ablation is typically performed by cardiologists in a hospital setting. They insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter through a vein or artery in the groin. Then they thread the tube up to the heart. Energy is used to either freeze or burn the area of tissue. Commonly referred to as a catheter ablation, this technique can be used to treat arrhythmias of both the atria (upper chambers) or ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart. It includes: Atrial flutter ablation (involving the atria) Atrial fibrillation ablation (involving the atria) Pulmonary vein isolation (involving the atria) Supraventricular tachycardia ablation (involving the atria) Ventricular tachycardia ablation (involving the ventricles) A similar technique can be used when arterial blockages don't respond to standard balloon angioplasty. Known as rotoatherectomy, a tiny, diamond-tipped drill removes fatty deposits and restores blood flow. Ablation: What to Expect on the Day of the Procedure Endometrial Ablation Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that destroys the lining of the uterus (endometrium). The goal is to reduce or stop heavy menstrual bleeding. This procedure is typically performed by a gynecologist in a medical facility. For all types of endometrial ablations, instruments are inserted through the vagina and into the uterus. Several techniques are used, including: High-energy radiofrequency: An expanded mesh delivers an electrical current created by radio waves to destroy the lining.Thermal balloon ablation: A catheter is inserted in the uterus with a balloon at the end. The balloon is filled with fluid that's 190 degrees F to get rid of the lining.Microwave endometrial ablation (MEA): Microwave energy travels into the uterus through a thin probe to destroy the lining.Cryoablation: A probe chilled to -4 degree F is used to freeze the lining. Endometrial ablation isn't a form of birth control or sterilization. You still ovulate afterward and pregnancy is possible, though unlikely because the fertilized egg doesn't have the endometrium to implant in. You shouldn't have an endometrial ablation if you want to have children in the future. If you do get pregnant after an ablation, it can put you at a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Your baby could be at higher risk for death either before or after birth as well. Your doctor can review options such as the various forms of birth control and sterilization surgery with you to see what might suit you best. Other Ablation Procedures Ablation has many other uses as well, including: Bone marrow ablation: Commonly used to remove bone marrow in advance of a bone marrow transplant. It's performed with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Ablative brain surgery: Used to treat certain neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and cluster headaches. Venous ablation: Removal of the saphenous vein, which runs the length of your lower leg, to eliminate varicose veins. It can also help venous reflux, a condition where blood reverses back down the legs instead of toward the heart. Summary Ablation is a procedure that removes a layer of tissue to treat many different medical issues. It can treat minor surface issues, such as removing warts on your skin, as well as more serious conditions, such as fixing heart rhythm problems. It may also be used for cosmetic requests, such as improving skin texture and discoloration. A Word From Verywell Most types of ablation can be used for multiple purposes. The preparation and recovery can be different for each of them. Be sure your practitioner goes over these issues with you so you know what to expect. Ablation Surgery: Recovery 13 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Kidney Cancer Ablation. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing skin care procedure. Aarts BM, Klompenhouwer EG, Rice SL, et al. Cryoablation and immunotherapy: an overview of evidence on its synergy. Insights Imaging. 2019;10(1):53. doi:10.1186/s13244-019-0727-5 Chen Q, Yang R, Gao A, Zhong D, Zhu H. Efficacy of fulguration combined with imiquimod cream on condyloma acuminatum, and the effect on immune functions and serums levels of IL-2 and IL-10. Exp Ther Med. 2017;14(1):131-134. doi:10.3892/etm.2017.4445 Edmonds JN, Moshirfar M. LASIK and surface ablation in the modern era: Trends and novel applications. Current Ophthalmology Reports. 2013;1(1):20-27. doi:10.1007/s40135-012-0004-y National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Cardiac ablation procedures. American Heart Association. Ablation for arrhythmias. Cleveland Clinic. Pulmonary vein isolation ablation. Tung R, Boyle NG, Shivkumar K. Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia. Circulation. 2010;122(3):e389-91. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.963371 Khoury AF, Bach RG, Kern MJ. Influence of adjunctive balloon angioplasty on coronary blood flow after rotational atherectomy. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn. 1995;36(3):272-6. doi:10.1002/ccd.1810360319 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Endometrial ablation. Laberge P, Leyland N, Murji A, et al. Endometrial ablation in the management of abnormal uterine bleeding. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2015;37(4):362-376. doi:10.1016/S1701-2163(15)30288-7 Sharp HT. Can anything be done to prevent pregnancy after endometrial ablation?. BJOG. 2018;125(1):54. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14853 Additional Reading Safavi-Naeini P, Rasekh A. Update on atrial fibrillation. Tex Heart Inst J. 2016;43(5):412-414. doi:10.14503/THIJ-16-5916 By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit