diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
index 825a4c582e9..61d6688a6f4 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
@@ -82,27 +82,27 @@ proc/do_surgery(mob/living/carbon/M, mob/living/user, obj/item/tool)
 		return 0
 	if (user.a_intent == "harm")	//check for Hippocratic Oath
 		return 0
-	if(M.op_stage.in_progress) //Can't operate on someone repeatedly.
-		user << "\red You can't operate on the patient while surgery is already in progress."
+	var/zone = user.zone_sel.selecting
+	if(zone in M.op_stage.in_progress) //Can't operate on someone repeatedly.
+		user << "\red You can't operate on this area while surgery is already in progress."
 		return 1
-
 	for(var/datum/surgery_step/S in surgery_steps)
 		//check if tool is right or close enough and if this step is possible
 		if(S.tool_quality(tool))
-			var/step_is_valid = S.can_use(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, tool)
+			var/step_is_valid = S.can_use(user, M, zone, tool)
 			if(step_is_valid && S.is_valid_target(M))
 				if(step_is_valid == 2) // This is a failure that already has a message for failing.
 					return 1
-				M.op_stage.in_progress = 1
-				S.begin_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, tool)		//start on it
+				M.op_stage.in_progress += zone
+				S.begin_step(user, M, zone, tool)		//start on it
 				//We had proper tools! (or RNG smiled.) and user did not move or change hands.
 				if(prob(S.tool_quality(tool)) &&  do_mob(user, M, rand(S.min_duration, S.max_duration)))
-					S.end_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, tool)		//finish successfully
+					S.end_step(user, M, zone, tool)		//finish successfully
 				else if ((tool in user.contents) && user.Adjacent(M))			//or
-					S.fail_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, tool)		//malpractice~
+					S.fail_step(user, M, zone, tool)		//malpractice~
 				else // This failing silently was a pain.
 					user << "\red You must remain close to your patient to conduct surgery."
-				M.op_stage.in_progress = 0 									// Clear the in-progress flag.
+				M.op_stage.in_progress -= zone 									// Clear the in-progress flag.
 				return	1	  												//don't want to do weapony things after surgery
 
 	if (user.a_intent == "help")
@@ -131,4 +131,4 @@ proc/sort_surgeries()
 	var/face	=	0
 	var/head_reattach = 0
 	var/current_organ = "organ"
-	var/in_progress = 0
\ No newline at end of file
+	var/list/in_progress = list()
\ No newline at end of file