In preparation for surgery, it is important for surgeons to have a detailed discussion with patients about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to surgery. Patient optimization, ensuring the patient is in the best medical condition before surgery, is also an important aspect of patient care that the surgeon must consider. Although complications cannot be eliminated, there are often opportunities to optimize patients, so these risks can be minimized based on current evidence-based medicine. To minimize the risk of complications, the surgeon should take an active role in each step of the patient's care beginning with the history and physical examination, obtaining the correct preoperative labs, and continuing through positioning, draping, and prepping before making an incision.