The present invention is directed to a spray applicator for spraying a tissue treatment medicant onto a tissue that has a container containing the medicant and is positioned at a proximal end of the spray applicator; a spray tip positioned at a distal end of the spray applicator; a cannula connecting the container with the spray tip; an actuatable dispensing mechanism at a proximal end of the applicator to express the medicant from the container through the cannula and through the spray tip toward the tissue; an optional pressurized gas source discharging a gas through the cannula in the vicinity of the spray tip or inside the spray tip; and a distance indicator that provides indicia of the distance between the spray tip and the tissue but does not prevent positioning the spray tip closer to the tissue than a defined distance for the distance indicator.