A surgical retractor (700; 1600), comprising an expandable frame including a first and a second pair of base components, each pair including: a first base component (714, 716, 718, 720) having a first blade (104; 702, 704, 706, 708; 1300) attached thereto; a second base component (714, 716, 718, 720) having a second blade (104; 702, 704, 706, 708; 1300) attached thereto; a first curved connector (106; 722, 724, 726, 728) extending from the first base component; and a second curved connector (106; 722, 724, 726, 728) extending from the second base component; wherein: the first connector of each pair connects the respective first and second base components, the second base component being moveable along a length of the first connector; the second connector of the first pair connects the second base component of the first pair and the first base component of the second pair, said first base component of the second pair being moveable along a length of said second connector; the second connector of the second pair connects the second base component of the second pair and the first base component of the first pair, said first base component of the first pair being moveable along a length of said second connector; the expandable frame has a major plane and the base components are arranged to define an access portal through the major plane that provides an opening with an inner diameter that allows access to a surgical site; and further wherein: upon movement of the second base components of each pair along the length of the respective first connectors, the frame moves from a first position to a second position and causes a distance between the first base components and the second base components to change; and upon movement of the first base component of the first pair along the length of the second connector of the second pair, and upon movement of the first base component of the second pair along the length of the second connector of the first pair, the frame moves from the second position to a third position and causes a distance between said first base components and said second base components to change. a first base component (714, 716, 718, 720) having a first blade (104; 702, 704, 706, 708; 1300) attached thereto; a second base component (714, 716, 718, 720) having a second blade (104; 702, 704, 706, 708; 1300) attached thereto; a first curved connector (106; 722, 724, 726, 728) extending from the first base component; and a second curved connector (106; 722, 724, 726, 728) extending from the second base component; the first connector of each pair connects the respective first and second base components, the second base component being moveable along a length of the first connector; the second connector of the first pair connects the second base component of the first pair and the first base component of the second pair, said first base component of the second pair being moveable along a length of said second connector; the second connector of the second pair connects the second base component of the second pair and the first base component of the first pair, said first base component of the first pair being moveable along a length of said second connector; the expandable frame has a major plane and the base components are arranged to define an access portal through the major plane that provides an opening with an inner diameter that allows access to a surgical site; upon movement of the second base components of each pair along the length of the respective first connectors, the frame moves from a first position to a second position and causes a distance between the first base components and the second base components to change; and upon movement of the first base component of the first pair along the length of the second connector of the second pair, and upon movement of the first base component of the second pair along the length of the second connector of the first pair, the frame moves from the second position to a third position and causes a distance between said first base components and said second base components to change.