Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor (20) includes a working channel (50) formed by a first portion (22) and a second portion (42). The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for insertion that minimizes trauma to skin and tissue to an enlarged configuration after insertion to further retract skin and tissue in a minimally invasive manner. Instruments are engageable to the first and second portions and operable to move the first and second portions relative to one another.
