diff --git a/code/_onclick/item_attack.dm b/code/_onclick/item_attack.dm
index 411d25befb..88e69696bf 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/item_attack.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/item_attack.dm
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ avoid code duplication. This includes items that may sometimes act as a standard
 /mob/living/attackby(obj/item/I, mob/user)
 	if(!ismob(user))
 		return 0
-	if(can_operate(src) && I.do_surgery(src,user)) //Surgery
-		return 1
+	if(can_operate(src) && I.do_surgery(src,user))
+		if(I.can_do_surgery(src,user))
+			return 1
+		else
+			return 0
 	return I.attack(src, user, user.zone_sel.selecting)
 
 // Proximity_flag is 1 if this afterattack was called on something adjacent, in your square, or on your person.
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/face.dm b/code/modules/surgery/face.dm
index 744b1d56dd..dc1c0ab31c 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/face.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/face.dm
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 /datum/surgery_step/face
 	priority = 2
+	req_open = 0
 	can_infect = 0
 	can_use(mob/living/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
 		if (!hasorgans(target))
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/generic.dm b/code/modules/surgery/generic.dm
index e6dc9d9860..f08d677f6a 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/generic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/generic.dm
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 	/obj/item/weapon/melee/energy/sword = 5
 	)
 	priority = 2
+	req_open = 0
 	min_duration = 90
 	max_duration = 110
 
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@
 	/obj/item/weapon/scalpel/manager = 100
 	)
 	priority = 2
+	req_open = 0
 	min_duration = 80
 	max_duration = 120
 
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@
 	/obj/item/weapon/material/knife = 75,	\
 	/obj/item/weapon/material/shard = 50, 		\
 	)
+	req_open = 0
 
 	min_duration = 90
 	max_duration = 110
@@ -273,6 +276,7 @@
 	/obj/item/weapon/circular_saw = 100, \
 	/obj/item/weapon/material/hatchet = 75
 	)
+	req_open = 0
 
 	min_duration = 110
 	max_duration = 160
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/limb_reattach.dm b/code/modules/surgery/limb_reattach.dm
index 8e6e8da21f..3b6be3b9eb 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/limb_reattach.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/limb_reattach.dm
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 /datum/surgery_step/limb/
 	priority = 3 // Must be higher than /datum/surgery_step/internal
+	req_open = 0
 	can_infect = 0
 	can_use(mob/living/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
 		if (!hasorgans(target))
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/other.dm b/code/modules/surgery/other.dm
index d0ba959111..4362dc969f 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/other.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/other.dm
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@
 		/obj/item/weapon/circular_saw = 60,
 		/obj/item/weapon/pickaxe/plasmacutter = 100
 		)
+	req_open = 0
 
 	can_infect = 0
 	blood_level = 0
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/robotics.dm b/code/modules/surgery/robotics.dm
index 17729a6304..544ddbbcfe 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/robotics.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/robotics.dm
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 		/obj/item/weapon/coin = 50,
 		/obj/item/weapon/material/kitchen/utensil/knife = 50
 	)
+	req_open = 0
 
 	min_duration = 90
 	max_duration = 110
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
index 109da96b69..387621f3d6 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 /datum/surgery_step
 	var/priority = 0	//steps with higher priority would be attempted first
 
+	var/req_open = 1	//1 means the part must be cut open, 0 means it doesn't
+
 	// type path referencing tools that can be used for this step, and how well are they suited for it
 	var/list/allowed_tools = null
 	// type paths referencing races that this step applies to.
@@ -77,6 +79,20 @@
 
 	E.germ_level = max(germ_level,E.germ_level) //as funny as scrubbing microbes out with clean gloves is - no.
 
+
+/obj/item/proc/can_do_surgery(mob/living/carbon/M, mob/living/user)
+	if(M == user)
+		return 0
+	if(!ishuman(M))
+		return 1
+	var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = M
+	var/obj/item/organ/external/affected = H.get_organ(user.zone_sel.selecting)
+	if(affected)
+		for(var/datum/surgery_step/S in surgery_steps)
+			if(!affected.open && S.req_open)
+				return 0
+	return 0
+
 /obj/item/proc/do_surgery(mob/living/carbon/M, mob/living/user)
 	if(!istype(M))
 		return 0
@@ -109,7 +125,7 @@
 				return	1	  												//don't want to do weapony things after surgery
 
 	if (user.a_intent == I_HELP)
-		user << "<span class='warning'>You can't see any useful way to use [src] on [M].</span>"
+		user << "<span class='warning'>You can't see any surgical way to use [src] on [M].</span>"
 		return 1
 	return 0