What is the difference between electrosurgery units and lasers in terms of damage to the tissue?

Question

I wonder if the difference between both is as big as their price. Can electrosurgery be used in the same way as lasers? How do both compare when it comes to tissue healing? Any comment is appreciated.

Answer 1

The answer is in the user. Lasers which can be focused can be very precise, but an out of focus laser will be more destructive than electocautery.
The electrosurgical unit used on "cut" mode with a fine electrode cuts by exploding cells with high frequency current.The margin of thermal damage can be as fine as a few cells thick.
The laser cuts tissue be vaporizing cells. With a well focused laser, the margin of injury can be as fine a few cells thick.
It is very user dependent. I was trained in both techniques and am comfortable with each fr different purpose,.

Answer 2

Lasers make a much more precise cut with less peripheral burning.