A method of making a suture needle having a bendable region includes obtaining a suture needle made of a martensitic alloy having an austenitic transition temperature. The suture needle has a proximal section, a distal section with a sharpened tip, and a bendable region located between the proximal and distal sections. The method includes heating the suture needle to a first temperature that is greater than the austenitic transition temperature of the martensitic alloy and quenching the suture needle to room temperature to harden the martensitic alloy. After heating and quenching, the bendable region of the suture needle is heated locally to a second temperature that is above 800 degrees Celsius, but below the austenitic transition temperature of the martensitic alloy so that the bendable region is softened and made more flexible relative to the proximal and distal sections of the suture needle. The locally heating of the bendable region is by electrical resistance heating, laser heating, induction heating, flame heating, or hot gas heating. The suture needle is tempered to improve ductility.
