A radiowave current electrode having a shank for connection to a source of radiowave current or electrosurgical RF energy and at one end an active radiowave current electrode, the active end being shaped to perform a radiowave current procedure involving the application of the RF energy from an electrically conductive active surface of the active end to tissue to modify the tissue, the active surface having a plurality of spaced outwardly-projecting regions each shaped such that its outermost region is equal to or narrower than its innermost region, and such that more of the RF energy emanating from the active surface and passing to the tissue occurs via the outwardly-projecting regions. As a further feature, an adjacent section of the active end is coated with a substantially transparent insulating layer consisting essentially of a parylene plastic to render it inactive. As still a further feature, a thin layer of an RF excitable pigment is positioned below or mixed with the insulating layer such that when the pigment glows in response to the presence of RF on the electrode, the glow is visible to a practioner using the electrode.
