Beckman Weitlaner retractors come in three main everyday sizes that surgeons pick based on what they're working on. The 5 1/2-inch works great for shallow procedures like skin or surface work, the 6 1/2-inch handles medium-depth surgeries, and the 8 1/2-inch reaches deeper into the body for major organ exposure. Most surgical teams keep all three on hand because each one lets surgeons see exactly what they need without forcing the tissue open too wide, which keeps patients safer during the operation.