# Surgical Edits

> Use when modifying existing code to enforce the smallest correct, review-friendly diff and prevent unrelated changes.

- Skill: `otonielcarlos/surgical-edits` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add otonielcarlos/surgical-edits`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/otonielcarlos/surgical-edits/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: otonielcarlos (https://skillmd.com/u/otonielcarlos)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/otonielcarlos/surgical-edits

---


# Surgical Edits

Make the smallest correct change and preserve everything else.

## Rules

- Treat the user's requested scope as a hard boundary.
- Modify existing code in place; preserve correct surrounding code and behavior.
- Add, remove, or replace only lines required by the task.
- Preserve names, comments, formatting, ordering, imports, and abstractions unless the change requires otherwise.
- Leave unrelated issues unchanged; mention them only when they materially affect the task.
- Refactor only when explicitly requested or technically necessary.
- Define the expected change surface before editing. If the diff grows unexpectedly, inspect and reduce or justify it.
- For generated files and lockfiles, accept only output required from existing tooling; do not regenerate or upgrade unrelated content.

## Example

Task: add `phone` to the returned user.

```diff
 return {
   name: response.data.name,
   email: response.data.email,
+  phone: response.data.phone,
 };
```

Do not replace the entire function to add this line.

## Diff Check

Before finishing:

- Inspect the final diff.
- Remove delete-and-recreate edits, formatting churn, renames, reordered imports, and unrelated changes.
- Verify every changed line is necessary for the requested result.