Excision vs ablation: what’s the difference?

Excision and ablation are two different surgical ways to treat endometriosis lesions. With excision, we cut out the lesion, aiming to remove the disease at its root, including deeper tissue involvement.

With ablation (also called cautery or fulguration), the surface of a lesion is burned or destroyed. That approach can leave deeper endometriosis behind, which may contribute to persistent symptoms or earlier return of pain for some patients. If you’re weighing surgical options, our team can review your symptoms, imaging, and prior operative notes (if you have them) to help you understand which approach best fits your situation.