Who would have thought that one day, a person could have surgery on their spine and the same day, go home to recover? With advances in technology and surgical procedures, this is now possible. For example, endoscopic spine surgery can now be performed on a patient suffering from herniated discs, whereas before, that same person would have been required to have a more invasive back procedure that would have required a hospital stay, more extensive scarring, and a greater risk for blood loss or infection. Now, outpatient surgeries, meaning the patient can go home the same day as the operation, are common practice today. Unlike traditional surgery, outpatient surgery is often easier, faster, and more affordable for the patient.