Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Surgical scissors are hand-held cutting instruments, and the main types are operating, Mayo, Metzenbaum, iris, bandage, suture, wire-cutting, tenotomy and dissecting scissors, plus long-shafted laparoscopic scissors. They differ mainly in blade length and shape, tip style (sharp or blunt) and whether the blades are straight or curved. The table below sets the types side by side.
Who uses them: surgical teams, clinic and hospital staff who open and reprocess instrument sets, and, according to one supplier, laboratory researchers doing sample preparation and small-animal surgery.
What surgical scissors are
Columbia Surgery’s page on surgical scissors names six categories: dissecting, suture, operating, Metzenbaum, Mayo and laparoscopic. Its page notes that scissors may be straight or curved, depending on the surgical need. The laboratory supplier WPI lists more specialised patterns, including iris, bandage, wire-cutting and tenotomy scissors. The names overlap, so a product listing may use a pattern name, a use name, or both.
How they are built
Tip style is the first thing that separates the patterns. WPI describes operating scissors as generally blunt-tipped with a sharp blade, bandage scissors as having one blunt and one sharp tip, and iris scissors as small with fine tips. Tip styles vary by model, so read the product’s own description rather than assuming from the name.
Reusable instruments are typically specified by material. One procurement specification published by UNFPA Global Supply, for a Metzenbaum scissors 18 cm curved, lists martensitic steel (quenched, magnetic steel) and describes the blades as thin, curved, with blunt ends.
Types of surgical scissors compared
| Type | Typical use | Key difference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating | General cutting of tissue, dressings and surgical materials | General-purpose; generally blunt tip with a sharp blade | Columbia Surgery; WPI |
| Mayo | Thicker tissue such as fascia and muscle, and heavy sutures | Stronger, with a long, heavier blade | Columbia Surgery; WPI |
| Metzenbaum | Delicate dissection | Long-handled, with a long, thin blade and a blunt, rounded tip | Columbia Surgery; WPI |
| Iris | Delicate dissection, fine sutures, microdissection | Small with fine tips; originally an ophthalmic instrument | WPI |
| Bandage (utility) | Dressings and bandages, including clothing close to the skin | One blunt tip and one sharp tip | WPI |
| Suture (stitch) | Cutting sutures at closure or removal | Small blades with sharp tips (WPI); Columbia notes some have small hooked tips for lifting stitches | Columbia Surgery; WPI |
| Wire cutting | Cutting wire in orthopedic surgery and bone fixation | Sturdy blades with a special cutting edge for wire; WPI notes one model has a notch to hold the wire | WPI |
| Tenotomy | Cutting tendons and working in tight spaces | Sharp, thin, tapered straight blade | WPI |
| Dissecting | Cutting and separating delicate tissue; sample preparation; small-animal surgery | Pointed; straight or curved. Columbia notes blunt or sharp tips depending on the procedure | Columbia Surgery; WPI |
| Laparoscopic | Minimally invasive surgery | Long, narrow shafts for added reach and control | Columbia Surgery |
For a closer look at two of the most-compared patterns, see the Metzenbaum vs Mayo scissors comparison and the guide to dissecting scissors.
Straight or curved
Columbia Surgery states that surgical scissors may be straight or curved, depending on the surgical need. WPI describes tenotomy blades as straight and dissecting scissors as straight or curved, so check blade shape in the product listing.
Sizes that are stated
Sizes are stated for only some types. The figures below are from WPI’s guide and describe that supplier’s range, not a standard.
| Type | Length stated by WPI |
|---|---|
| Operating | 11.5 to 18 cm (4.5 to 7 in) |
| Mayo | 14 to 25 cm (5.5 to 10 in) |
| Bandage (utility) | 8.75 to 15 cm (3.5 to 6 in) |
| Dissecting | 8.5 to 12.5 cm (3.3 to 4.9 in) |
The UNFPA specification mentioned above lists a Metzenbaum pattern at 18 cm (180 mm).
How to choose
A short checklist built around what the scissors will cut:
- Tissue or material. Columbia places Mayo scissors with thicker tissue, muscle and heavy sutures (WPI lists fascia and muscle), and Metzenbaum and iris scissors with delicate dissection.
- Dressings and bandages. WPI lists bandage (utility) scissors, with one blunt and one sharp tip, for dressings and bandages.
- Sutures. Suture scissors are listed by both sources for cutting stitches at closure or removal.
- Wire. WPI lists wire-cutting scissors, with a notch to hold the wire, for orthopedic wire.
- Reach. Columbia describes laparoscopic scissors as having long, narrow shafts for minimally invasive work.
- Tip and blade shape. Check the product description for blunt or sharp tips and for straight or curved blades.
The manufacturer’s instructions for use govern a given product’s intended use.
Safe use and handling basics
The UNFPA Global Supply specification for a reusable Metzenbaum scissors states that the item must be cleaned and disinfected after each use and sterilised in a steam steriliser. The same specification lists the standards it cites for instrument materials and reprocessing: ISO 7153-1:2016 (surgical instruments, materials, metals), ISO 13402:1995 (resistance to autoclaving, corrosion and thermal exposure) and ISO 17664:2017 (information supplied by the manufacturer for processing). Follow the manufacturer’s processing instructions for the exact product. For background on steam sterilisation, see what an autoclave is and sterility assurance level.
Common mistakes
- Treating the name as the specification. Tip style and blade shape vary by model, so read them from the product listing.
- Mixing up the reference lengths. A length stated for one type, such as WPI’s 14 to 25 cm for Mayo, is not a general range for all surgical scissors.
- Skipping cleaning between uses. The specification cited above requires cleaning and disinfection after each use, then steam sterilisation.
FAQ
What are the types of surgical scissors?
Columbia Surgery names dissecting, suture, operating, Metzenbaum, Mayo and laparoscopic scissors. WPI adds iris, bandage, wire-cutting and tenotomy scissors. The comparison table above sets out the use and key difference of each.
Are surgical scissors straight or curved?
Both. Columbia Surgery states they may be straight or curved, depending on the surgical need.
What are surgical scissors made of?
One UNFPA procurement specification for Metzenbaum scissors lists martensitic steel (quenched, magnetic steel). Other products may differ, so check each product’s specification.
Sources
All sources checked 2026-10-29.
- Columbia Surgery, “Tools of the Trade: Surgical Scissors”: https://columbiasurgery.org/node/18759
- WPI, “The Different Surgical Scissors for Every Application” (laboratory supplier guide): https://wpiinc.com/blogs/all/surgical-scissors-for-every-application
- UNFPA Global Supply, product specification “Scissors, Tonsil, Metzenbaum, Curved, 18 cm”: https://globalsupply.unfpa.org/products/scissors-tonsil-metzenbaum-curved-18-cm-1002023.html. The ISO standards named above are cited in this specification.
