The surgery is most commonly performed on the lower back (lumbar spine). During a discectomy, the surgeon makes a small incision in the back to access the spine. A special microscope is typically used to work around the delicate nerve roots and minimize the incision size and muscle damage. The surgeon carefully retracts the nerve and removes the part of the disc that has ruptured or is bulging. The remaining disc is left intact between the vertebrae to act as a shock absorber and aid in spine motion. Patients typically return home the same day of surgery.