The steam envelope allows for continued arcing, thus extending the cut. This produces a clean cut with little coagulation artifact. The transformation zone can thus be removed, with a good specimen sent to pathology. In the coagulation mode , fulguration of tissue is produced with short bursts of high peak voltage current. This mode is often used with a ball electrode to achieve hemostasis.
Most modern units can combine the amount of cutting and coagulation currents in blend modes .
With all operational modes, the current is quickly dispersed to the grounding electrode. The large surface area of the return electrode prevents high charge density and thus prevents burns. An improperly applied return electrode can cause burns. Efficacy and patient acceptance of LEEP compare favorably with other methods of cervical treatment. 5 LEEP is also a well-tolerated procedure, with 85 percent of patients reporting no discomfort.