Soft　tissue　and　organ　modeling　is　the　most　critical　function　of　any　virtual　surgical　system.　This　study　proposes　a　softness-based　adaptive　mesh　refinement　algorithm　to　simultaneously　ensure　realistic　and　real-time　soft　tissue　simulation.　The　algorithm　was　constructed　to　consider　that　in　a　virtual　surgery　scenario,　the　surgical　sites　involve　large　deformation　and　thus　require　high　simulation　precision,　whereas　the　nonsurgical　sites　involve　small　deformations　and　thus　require　low　simulation　precision.　This　study　used　the　stomach　lining　as　an　example,　applying　mesh　refinement　in　the　deformation　sites　of　the　stomach　lining　to　enhance　the　accuracy　of　the　simulations.　In　addition,　low　mesh　models　were　adopted　for　nonsurgical　sites　to　ensure　computing　efficiency.　©　2020