A surgical access port adapted for performing a surgical procedure at an access site wherein a body cavity of a patient is pressurized with an insufflation gas, the access port adapted to provide access to the body cavity for surgical procedures while maintaining insufflation pressure in the body cavity, the surgical access port comprising: an adjustable retractor comprising: a proximal ring, wherein the proximal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an outer surface of a body wall of a patient; a retraction sheath comprising a tubular wall, a proximal portion coupled to the proximal ring, and a distal portion, wherein the retraction sheath is configured to be disposed through an opening in the body wall of the patient, and wherein the retraction sheath is adjustable to retract the opening in the body wall; and a distal ring coupled to the distal portion of the retraction sheath, wherein the distal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an inner surface of the body wall of the patient; and a gel cap couplable to the proximal ring, the gel cap comprising a cap ring substantially surrounding a gel pad disposed within the cap ring, the surgical access port being characterized by further comprising a sealing valve positioned within the cap ring and substantially surrounded by and operatively attached to the gel pad, wherein: the sealing valve defines an access channel through the gel pad; the sealing valve comprises a first seal disposed at a proximal side of the gel pad and forming an instrument seal with an instrument extending therethrough and a second seal forming a zero seal in the absence of any instrument extending therethrough; the gel pad is deformable without losing physical integrity and is configured to allow both translational and pivotal degrees of freedom of an instrument extending there through; and the first seal comprises a septum seal and the second seal comprises a double duckbill valve, a duckbill valve or flap valve. an adjustable retractor comprising: a proximal ring, wherein the proximal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an outer surface of a body wall of a patient; a retraction sheath comprising a tubular wall, a proximal portion coupled to the proximal ring, and a distal portion, wherein the retraction sheath is configured to be disposed through an opening in the body wall of the patient, and wherein the retraction sheath is adjustable to retract the opening in the body wall; and a distal ring coupled to the distal portion of the retraction sheath, wherein the distal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an inner surface of the body wall of the patient; and a proximal ring, wherein the proximal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an outer surface of a body wall of a patient; a retraction sheath comprising a tubular wall, a proximal portion coupled to the proximal ring, and a distal portion, wherein the retraction sheath is configured to be disposed through an opening in the body wall of the patient, and wherein the retraction sheath is adjustable to retract the opening in the body wall; and a distal ring coupled to the distal portion of the retraction sheath, wherein the distal ring is configured to be disposed proximate an inner surface of the body wall of the patient; and a gel cap couplable to the proximal ring, the gel cap comprising a cap ring substantially surrounding a gel pad disposed within the cap ring, the surgical access port being characterized by further comprising a sealing valve positioned within the cap ring and substantially surrounded by and operatively attached to the gel pad, wherein: the sealing valve defines an access channel through the gel pad; the sealing valve comprises a first seal disposed at a proximal side of the gel pad and forming an instrument seal with an instrument extending therethrough and a second seal forming a zero seal in the absence of any instrument extending therethrough; the gel pad is deformable without losing physical integrity and is configured to allow both translational and pivotal degrees of freedom of an instrument extending there through; and the first seal comprises a septum seal and the second seal comprises a double duckbill valve, a duckbill valve or flap valve. the sealing valve defines an access channel through the gel pad; the sealing valve comprises a first seal disposed at a proximal side of the gel pad and forming an instrument seal with an instrument extending therethrough and a second seal forming a zero seal in the absence of any instrument extending therethrough; the gel pad is deformable without losing physical integrity and is configured to allow both translational and pivotal degrees of freedom of an instrument extending there through; and the first seal comprises a septum seal and the second seal comprises a double duckbill valve, a duckbill valve or flap valve.