A medical probe for use with tissue includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, and a stabilizer configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient includes introducing a medical probe having an operative element within the patient, the operative element being adjacent a target tissue, applying a vacuum force between the medical probe and the target tissue to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue, and operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue.