The vast majority of spine surgeries are elective, and the decision to have surgery or not to have surgery is entirely in the hands of the patient, and all the patient has to do is make the final choice. Therefore, it is important to consider as thoroughly as possible the pros and cons between doing and not doing the surgery, the risks and benefits that will likely be faced, and the probability of success before the surgery. Most spine surgeries today are considered safe, but patients still need to carefully discuss with their surgeon some of the risks associated with the procedure. Any surgery is accompanied by a certain percentage of complications (e.g., wound infections, anesthesia accidents, etc.). Many spine surgeries are also associated with additional risks, such as numbness in the limbs due to nerve root injury, paralysis due to spinal cord injury, or difficulty with urination and defecation. Before agreeing to any surgery, be sure to understand all of the possible complications that come with the procedure. While the patient may be deterred by the risks of surgery, he or she must also consider the risks that he or she may face without surgery, such as persistent pain, further nerve damage, or even permanent disability. It is important for the patient to understand what is affecting his or her quality of life and how this will affect his or her life if the surgery is not performed. If the patient decides to have the surgery, he or she needs to prepare: before the surgery, he or she should adjust the physical and mental state, such as diabetes, hypertension and other comorbidities should be controlled, and drugs such as reserpine and aspirin should be stopped for a period of time.