An electrosurgical generator for applying output power to tissue (14) to desiccate tissue. The electrosurgical generator comprises a controller (12) for cycling the output power to cause a cycling of the tissue impedance and a tissue impedance measurement circuit (15) coupled to said controller for measuring impedance of the tissue. The controller cycles the output power by applying a predetermined amount of output power to said tissue, lowering the output power upon an output voltage reaching a predetermined maximum, re-applying the predetermined amount of output power to said tissue if a measured tissue impedance does not indicate desiccation of the tissue, and terminating output power when the measured tissue impedance exceeds a predetermined value, the predetermined value corresponding to a desiccated condition of the tissue.
