Abstract: A scalpel is disclosed for the accurate and rapid formation of flaps or thin sections of skin during many types of surgical procedures (such as excision or reconstruction) in which it is necessary for the surgeon to make an oblique extended cut into the patient's skin and lift an elongated flap of the outer layers of the skin to obtain access to deeper layers of tissue, muscle or bone below. The scalpel has an elongated handle having two opposite ends; a cutting blade extending laterally from one of the ends; and a depth-of-cut limiting plate extending laterally from the same end and disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the cutting blade. The limiting plate has an aperture therein through which the surgeon can view the cutting blade during use. The scalpel thus limits the maximum thickness of tissue that can be cut with the cutting blade.