A surgical handpiece having a tip with at least two coaxially spaced electrically conductive tubes. The tubes are separated by an electrical insulator. The interior of the inner tube is used for aspiration of liquefied tissue. The outer tube is surrounded by a soft irrigation sleeve that forms an irrigation fluid path. The distal portion of the interior tube terminates inside of the outer tube so as to form a boiling region. Surgical fluid from the irrigation fluid path can enter the boiling region through a hole or port in the outer tube. Electrical current is passed between the inner and outer tube to rapidly boil any surgical fluid in the boiling region. The boiling fluid rapidly expands out of the ring between the tube ends and forces hot fluid to contact the targeted tissue, thereby liquefying the tissue and allowing the tissue to be aspirated. Such a construction allows the boiling chamber to be self-priming and operate even if the outer tube is occluded with material.