A system and method for inhibiting bleeding during surgical wound closure is provided. As the surgical wound created as part of surgery is closed by a suture and needle, energy is applied to the needle causing bleeding tissue to cauterize thus inhibiting at least some of the bleeding that invariably accompanies surgery. The surgical needle is held by a needle holder or other device and that device holding the needle is connected to an energy source that can be controlled by the surgeon. As energy from the energy source is applied to the needle holder through a conductive line, it is conveyed to the surgical needle through the needle holder and the energy emanating from the needle cauterizes tissue and controls bleeding as the wound is sutured closed. Bleeding from the needle tract created by the puncture of the tissue by the sharp point of the needle and passage of the needle body into the tissue that would otherwise occur as a necessary part of suture is in particular inhibited. Use of the system and method in blepharoplasty is described.
