Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical stretching device for the expansion of tissue, in particular for the expansion of skin. The invention is characterized in that it includes one or more threads (1) or bands (1) extending between two fastening arrangements (2). The fastening arrangements have one-way nips for the threads (1) or the bands (1) so that at least one fastening arrangement (2) can be moved on the threads (1), or bands towards the other fastening arrangement. When this happens, the distance between fastening points on the tissue is reduced such that a stretching of the tissue occurs outside the fastening points.