A surgical bone wax applicator includes one or more layers of absorbent material such as cotton, and a mass of bone wax adhered on the material. A heating device such as, for example, a resistive electrical conductor is fixed on or within the absorbent material. The heating device has associated electrical contact terminals and operates to heat and soften the bone wax in response to an electric potential applied across the terminals. The potential may be applied through blades of bipolar forceps after the forceps are connected to a bipolar generator, and the forceps blades are placed in contact with the terminals of the heating device. When the wax softens, the surgeon may continue to grip the applicator with the forceps and manipulate the applicator over the pores of bone tissue to effect hemostasis.