A surgical access apparatus for positioning within an incision in tissue, which comprises: an elongated seal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion including a lip, the elongated seal member having a longitudinal passageway defined by an internal surface for reception and passage of a surgical object, the elongated seal member being adapted to transition between a first condition in which the lip extends in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis defining a first transverse dimension sufficient to facilitate securement of the elongated seal member within an incision in tissue, and a second condition in which the lip extends in a distal direction defining a second transverse dimension less than the first transverse dimension to facilitate insertion within the incision in the tissue, the elongated seal member comprising at least a semi-resilient material to be normally biased towards the first condition thereof; and a deployment member at least partially positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the elongated seal member, the deployment member secured to the elongated seal member along the internal surface whereby distal longitudinal movement of the deployment member along the longitudinal axis causes engagement between the deployment member and the internal surface which causes the intermediate portion to elongate, and the lip to deflect such that the elongated seal member transitions from the first condition to the second condition, the deployment member being detached from the elongated seal member when subjected to a predetermined force to permit the deployment member to be removed from the longitudinal passageway with the elongated seal member in the first condition, thereby leaving the elongated seal member within the incision to receive the surgical object, characterised in that the distal surface of the lip in the first condition defines the distal-most portion of the internal surface of longitudinal passageway in the second condition. an elongated seal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion including a lip, the elongated seal member having a longitudinal passageway defined by an internal surface for reception and passage of a surgical object, the elongated seal member being adapted to transition between a first condition in which the lip extends in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis defining a first transverse dimension sufficient to facilitate securement of the elongated seal member within an incision in tissue, and a second condition in which the lip extends in a distal direction defining a second transverse dimension less than the first transverse dimension to facilitate insertion within the incision in the tissue, the elongated seal member comprising at least a semi-resilient material to be normally biased towards the first condition thereof; and a deployment member at least partially positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the elongated seal member, the deployment member secured to the elongated seal member along the internal surface whereby distal longitudinal movement of the deployment member along the longitudinal axis causes engagement between the deployment member and the internal surface which causes the intermediate portion to elongate, and the lip to deflect such that the elongated seal member transitions from the first condition to the second condition, the deployment member being detached from the elongated seal member when subjected to a predetermined force to permit the deployment member to be removed from the longitudinal passageway with the elongated seal member in the first condition, thereby leaving the elongated seal member within the incision to receive the surgical object, characterised in that the distal surface of the lip in the first condition defines the distal-most portion of the internal surface of longitudinal passageway in the second condition.