A buttress assembly for reinforcing tissue layers joined by surgical stapling, wherein the buttress assembly comprises: (a) a buttress comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the buttress further comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the buttress defines a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the buttress further comprises a center region adjacent to a first edge region on one side of the center region and adjacent to a second edge region on the other side of the center region; and (b) an adhesive applied to a select one of the first surface and the second surface of the buttress, wherein the adhesive extends continuously from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress, wherein the adhesive is located along the first edge region and the second edge region leaving the center region of the buttress substantially free of the adhesive; wherein the adhesive comprises an uneven distribution that comprises more of the adhesive at the distal end of the buttress than at the proximal end of the buttress; and wherein the adhesive comprises a first bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress, and wherein the adhesive further comprises a second bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress; and wherein the first bead of the adhesive partially overlaps the second bead of the adhesive along at least a portion of a length of the buttress. (a) a buttress comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the buttress further comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the buttress defines a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the buttress further comprises a center region adjacent to a first edge region on one side of the center region and adjacent to a second edge region on the other side of the center region; and (b) an adhesive applied to a select one of the first surface and the second surface of the buttress, wherein the adhesive extends continuously from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress, wherein the adhesive is located along the first edge region and the second edge region leaving the center region of the buttress substantially free of the adhesive; wherein the adhesive comprises an uneven distribution that comprises more of the adhesive at the distal end of the buttress than at the proximal end of the buttress; and wherein the adhesive comprises a first bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress, and wherein the adhesive further comprises a second bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress; and wherein the first bead of the adhesive partially overlaps the second bead of the adhesive along at least a portion of a length of the buttress. wherein the adhesive comprises an uneven distribution that comprises more of the adhesive at the distal end of the buttress than at the proximal end of the buttress; and wherein the adhesive comprises a first bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress, and wherein the adhesive further comprises a second bead of the adhesive extending from the proximal end of the buttress to the distal end of the buttress; and wherein the first bead of the adhesive partially overlaps the second bead of the adhesive along at least a portion of a length of the buttress.