# Claude Skill Surgical Changes

> Premium Claude Skill - Surgical Changes. Ensures edits are precise and minimally invasive. Matches existing style and avoids unrelated refactoring.

- Skill: `ishandutta2007/claude-skill-surgical-changes` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add ishandutta2007/claude-skill-surgical-changes`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/ishandutta2007/claude-skill-surgical-changes/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: ishandutta2007 (https://skillmd.com/u/ishandutta2007)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/ishandutta2007/claude-skill-surgical-changes

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# Surgical Changes (Claude Skill)

**Touch only what you must. Clean up only your own mess.**

When editing existing code:
- **Don't "improve" adjacent code.** Avoid touching comments or formatting unrelated to the task.
- **Don't refactor what isn't broken.** Keep the diff clean and focused.
- **Match existing style.** Even if you prefer a different pattern, follow the project's lead.
- **Report unrelated dead code.** Mention it in the output instead of deleting it unless asked.

When your changes create orphans:
- **Clean up your own mess.** Remove imports, variables, or functions that YOUR changes made unused.
- **Leave pre-existing dead code alone.** Unless explicitly requested to clean it up.

**The test:** Every changed line should trace directly to the user's request.