Intra- and post-operative bleedings are frequent complications of all surgical procedures and can represent a severe risk for patients. Beginning from the second half of the 20th century, with an important spur from the development of laparoscopy, great efforts were made in the field of surgical research, aiming at improving hemostatic techniques. The development of mechanical and thermic hemostatic devices, in addition to the improvement of new suturing materials, already improved the possibility of bleeding control; yet a very important contribution in this field has been represented by the introduction in the surgical setting of chemical/biological agents capable of empowering locally blood hemostatic capacity. Currently, there are more chemical hemostatic agents surgeons can make use of in order to minimize bleedings: we reviewed the most important classes, considered their advantages, disadvantages and risks, and tried to look forward to those that will offer, in our view, the best options - for surgeons and patients - for an efficient and safe prevention and control of surgical bleedings, either in open or minimally invasive surgery.