diff --git a/plugin/scalpel.lua b/plugin/scalpel.lua
index ab9c2bf..a0e4272 100644
--- a/plugin/scalpel.lua
+++ b/plugin/scalpel.lua
@@ -2,18 +2,33 @@
 -- scalpel.lua
 --
 
+local function word_exists_above_cursor(word)
+  local current_line = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[1]
+  for i = current_line - 1, 1, -1 do
+    local line = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(0, i - 1, i, false)[1]
+    if string.find(line, word) then
+      return true
+    end
+  end
+  return false
+end
+
 local function substitute_current_word()
   local word = vim.fn.expand('<cword>')
-  local pattern = ':,$s/\\v(' .. word .. ")//gc|:undojoin|1,''-&&"
+  local substituation_command_down = ':,$s/\\v(' .. word .. ')//gc'
+  local repeat_from_top_to_current_line = "|1,''-&&"
+  local cursor_move_to_replace_pattern
+
+  if word_exists_above_cursor(word) then
+    substituation_command_down = substituation_command_down .. repeat_from_top_to_current_line
+    cursor_move_to_replace_pattern = '<Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left>'
+  else
+    cursor_move_to_replace_pattern = '<Left><Left><Left>'
+  end
 
-  local cursor_move = vim.api.nvim_replace_termcodes(
-    '<Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left><Left>',
-    true,
-    false,
-    true
-  )
+  local cursor_move = vim.api.nvim_replace_termcodes(cursor_move_to_replace_pattern, true, false, true)
 
-  vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(pattern .. cursor_move, 'n', true)
+  vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(substituation_command_down .. cursor_move, 'n', true)
 end
 
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>e', substitute_current_word, { desc = 'Substite current word in file' })