The standard method of tonsillectomy has consisted of removal of the tonsil by dissection and snare. But recent methods using electrocautery or suction coagulator for dissection and hemostasis are gaining popularity. This study was undertaken to compare the technique of tonsillectomy using suction coagulator (SC) vs dissection-snare(DS) in 147 patients(294 tonsils) who were underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia from November 1990 to July 1991. The results were as follows : 1) The average time of tonsillectomy for one side was 5.0 min. on SC technique and 11.4 min. on DS technique. 2) The average blood loss during tonsillectomy for one side was 4.4cc on SC technique and 21.3cc on DC technique. 3) Healing time was 20.4 days on SC technique side and 18.9 days on DS technique side. 4) Postoperative delayed bleeding occurred in 4 tonsils(2.8%) on SC technique side and 3 tonsils(1.9%) on DS technique side, but there was no immediate bleeding. 5) Postoperative pharyngeal pain was not greatly different for both techniques. 6) Referred otalgia was not significantly different for both techniques. From the above results, we concluded that tonsillectomy using suction coagulator was no difference in healing time, postoperative bleeding, pharyngeal pain and referred otalgia when compared to dissection-snare technique, but a much faster and more bloodless procedure.