PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for selectively applying electrical energy to a target site in the head and neck of a patient's body especially including tissue at the ear, nose, and throat. SOLUTION: According to this invention, high frequency (RF) electrical energy is applied to one or more electrode terminals (104) in the presence of electrically conductive fluid in order to remove and/or modify the structure of tissue structures. Depending on the each treatment, this invention is applied to volumetrically remove tissue, shrink or contract collagen connective tissue, and/or coagulate severed blood vessels. For example, this invention may be useful for ablation and hemostasis of tissue in paranasal sinus surgery, collagen shrinkage, ablation, and hemostasis in treatment for treating snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea, for gross tissue removal, such as tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, tracheal stenosis, vocal cord polyps, and lesions; or for the resection or ablation of facial tumors or tumor in the mouth, the pharynx such as glossectomy, laryngectomy, acoustic neuroma procedures, and nasal ablation procedures. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT