The main advantages of preperitoneal and retroperitoneal endoscopic surgery over conventional laparoscopy or open surgery are the decreased risk of injury to organs and reduced postoperative adhesion formation. Exact knowledge of anatomy, as well as correct positioning of the patient, is essential for its success. While a blunt dissection technique, using either the fingers or an endoscope under pneumodissection, is preferred for preperitoneal surgery, the introduction of a balloon dissection device directly into the retroperitoneal cavity simplifies this procedure for retroperitoneoscopy. Different general surgical procedures are described for preperitoneal (hernia) and retroperitoneal (adrenalectomy, neurectomy/ sympathectomy) surgery. Urological/gynaecological procedures (kidney, tumor biopsy, lymphadenectomy) are excluded from this review. In recent years, the number of possible preperitoneal and retroperitoneal surgical procedures has increased, mainly as a result of the development of commercially-available balloon trocars and balloon-tipped trocars, which create and maintain a working space.