NYT Crossword

Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?

Archive answer — August 3, 2026

49 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“LASIK” is the published 5-letter fill for 49 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Monday, August 3, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

37 clues
  1. 1What's paid
  2. 5Slowpoke in a "mobile home"
  3. 10Figure that might be measured in acres
  4. 14What a diaper pail helps minimize
  5. 15___ bear (cuddly toy)
  6. 16Device used in a lactation room
  7. 17Size between mini and maxi
  8. 18Humiliate
  9. 19Ancient Peruvian society
  10. 20Idler along the seashore
  11. 22"Pumpkin eater" in a nursery rhyme
  12. 23Speak at the top of one's lungs
  13. 24Needle-working craft
  14. 26Kitchen appliance for desserts
  15. 30Division in a supermarket
  16. 31Travel like slime
  17. 32One lacking refinement
  18. 35Chess game's end
  19. 36Children's author A.A. ___
  20. 38Throw with force
  21. 39___ constrictor
  22. 40Phase in which users help catch bugs
  23. 41Instrument on which reveille is played
  24. 42Series that may feature forensics experts
  25. 46Ninja's quality
  26. 48___ whiskey
  27. 49Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?LASIK
  28. 50Adjective describing 20-, 26- and 42-Across
  29. 54Guesstimates for when planes are due, for short
  30. 55Donation at some Red Cross events
  31. 57"Best Dad ___" (message on a mug)
  32. 58"The King" in soccer
  33. 59Competitive thing to "bring"
  34. 60Still red, as steak
  35. 61Uno + dos
  36. 62All gone from the dinner plate
  37. 63Winter forecast

Down

39 clues
  1. 1Head-scratcher?
  2. 2Garfield's perky-eared canine buddy
  3. 3Coke or Pepsi
  4. 4Toddler's wheels
  5. 5Horses' hangout
  6. 6Cosmic cloud
  7. 7Eve's man
  8. 8Passports and driver's licenses, for short
  9. 9Aid in making soap
  10. 10Per individual
  11. 11Rehearsal
  12. 12Host with a mic
  13. 13A world ___
  14. 21"Present!"
  15. 22Hawaiian seafood dish
  16. 24"Let's go, man!"
  17. 25Demolish
  18. 26First two syllables of "I am what I am," aptly
  19. 27Farewell in Florence
  20. 28Opportunity to buy some antiques
  21. 29Back tooth
  22. 33Guthrie who sang "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant"
  23. 34Went by plane
  24. 36Convene
  25. 37What a mosquito bite causes
  26. 38Swindling sorts
  27. 40Swoleness
  28. 41Taco ___
  29. 43Rewards for excellent employees
  30. 44Stereotypical cry after "Honey …"
  31. 45___ voyage (first trip)
  32. 46Caught some Z's
  33. 47Product of Maine or Idaho, informally
  34. 50Jacket
  35. 51Pavlov known for canine experiments
  36. 52Roman emperor who competed in the Olympics (and "won" every event he was in)
  37. 53Got bigger
  38. 55Snookums
  39. 56Alternative to JFK and EWR

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. What's paid

    Answer: COST

  2. 5. Slowpoke in a "mobile home"

    Answer: SNAIL

  3. 10. Figure that might be measured in acres

    Answer: AREA

  4. 14. What a diaper pail helps minimize

    Answer: ODOR

  5. 15. ___ bear (cuddly toy)

    Answer: TEDDY

  6. 16. Device used in a lactation room

    Answer: PUMP

  7. 17. Size between mini and maxi

    Answer: MIDI

  8. 18. Humiliate

    Answer: ABASE

  9. 19. Ancient Peruvian society

    Answer: INCA

  10. 20. Idler along the seashore

    Answer: BEACHBUM

  11. 22. "Pumpkin eater" in a nursery rhyme

    Answer: PETER

  12. 23. Speak at the top of one's lungs

    Answer: YELL

  13. 24. Needle-working craft

    Answer: CROCHET

  14. 26. Kitchen appliance for desserts

    Answer: ICECREAMMAKER

  15. 30. Division in a supermarket

    Answer: AISLE

  16. 31. Travel like slime

    Answer: OOZE

  17. 32. One lacking refinement

    Answer: OAF

  18. 35. Chess game's end

    Answer: MATE

  19. 36. Children's author A.A. ___

    Answer: MILNE

  20. 38. Throw with force

    Answer: HURL

  21. 39. ___ constrictor

    Answer: BOA

  22. 40. Phase in which users help catch bugs

    Answer: BETA

  23. 41. Instrument on which reveille is played

    Answer: BUGLE

  24. 42. Series that may feature forensics experts

    Answer: TRUECRIMESHOW

  25. 46. Ninja's quality

    Answer: STEALTH

  26. 48. ___ whiskey

    Answer: MALT

  27. 49. Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?

    Answer: LASIK

  28. 50. Adjective describing 20-, 26- and 42-Across

    Answer: CHILLING

  29. 54. Guesstimates for when planes are due, for short

    Answer: ETAS

  30. 55. Donation at some Red Cross events

    Answer: BLOOD

  31. 57. "Best Dad ___" (message on a mug)

    Answer: EVER

  32. 58. "The King" in soccer

    Answer: PELE

  33. 59. Competitive thing to "bring"

    Answer: AGAME

  34. 60. Still red, as steak

    Answer: RARE

  35. 61. Uno + dos

    Answer: TRES

  36. 62. All gone from the dinner plate

    Answer: EATEN

  37. 63. Winter forecast

    Answer: SNOW

Down

  1. 1. Head-scratcher?

    Answer: COMB

  2. 2. Garfield's perky-eared canine buddy

    Answer: ODIE

  3. 3. Coke or Pepsi

    Answer: SODA

  4. 4. Toddler's wheels

    Answer: TRICYCLE

  5. 5. Horses' hangout

    Answer: STABLE

  6. 6. Cosmic cloud

    Answer: NEBULA

  7. 7. Eve's man

    Answer: ADAM

  8. 8. Passports and driver's licenses, for short

    Answer: IDS

  9. 9. Aid in making soap

    Answer: LYE

  10. 10. Per individual

    Answer: APIECE

  11. 11. Rehearsal

    Answer: RUNTHROUGH

  12. 12. Host with a mic

    Answer: EMCEE

  13. 13. A world ___

    Answer: APART

  14. 21. "Present!"

    Answer: HERE

  15. 22. Hawaiian seafood dish

    Answer: POKE

  16. 24. "Let's go, man!"

    Answer: CMON

  17. 25. Demolish

    Answer: RAZE

  18. 26. First two syllables of "I am what I am," aptly

    Answer: IAMB

  19. 27. Farewell in Florence

    Answer: CIAO

  20. 28. Opportunity to buy some antiques

    Answer: ESTATESALE

  21. 29. Back tooth

    Answer: MOLAR

  22. 33. Guthrie who sang "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant"

    Answer: ARLO

  23. 34. Went by plane

    Answer: FLEW

  24. 36. Convene

    Answer: MEET

  25. 37. What a mosquito bite causes

    Answer: ITCH

  26. 38. Swindling sorts

    Answer: HUSTLERS

  27. 40. Swoleness

    Answer: BULK

  28. 41. Taco ___

    Answer: BELL

  29. 43. Rewards for excellent employees

    Answer: RAISES

  30. 44. Stereotypical cry after "Honey …"

    Answer: IMHOME

  31. 45. ___ voyage (first trip)

    Answer: MAIDEN

  32. 46. Caught some Z's

    Answer: SLEPT

  33. 47. Product of Maine or Idaho, informally

    Answer: TATER

  34. 50. Jacket

    Answer: COAT

  35. 51. Pavlov known for canine experiments

    Answer: IVAN

  36. 52. Roman emperor who competed in the Olympics (and "won" every event he was in)

    Answer: NERO

  37. 53. Got bigger

    Answer: GREW

  38. 55. Snookums

    Answer: BAE

  39. 56. Alternative to JFK and EWR

    Answer: LGA

The answer to “Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?” in the NYT Crossword is LASIK — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 3, 2026 at 49-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?” answer

LASIK(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does LASIK fit?

LASIK is the published 5-letter answer at 49-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Surgery that leaves the patient looking better?”?

The answer is LASIK.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: LASIK.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for August 3, 2026 at 49-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for August 3, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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