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The ophthalmologist's chalazion forceps has been adapted for use in dermatologic minor surgery.
The forceps is used to produce reasonable hemostasis in biopsies or in other forms of minor surgery or electrosurgery on small lesions of the sides and tip of the tongue, lips, and external ear. The technique is as follows: The lesion is infiltrated with a local anesthetic and then is placed between the "eye" and the solid back of the instrument. The set screw is then turned a reasonable amount to produce hemostasis, and then the indicated surgery is performed.
The instrument is the Desmarres chalazion forceps. Over-all length is 3 1/2 in. (9 cm.); the "eye," or aperture, is approximately 1 in. (2.5 cm.) by 1/2 in. (1.3 cm.) in diameter.