Abstract Aim The purpose of this study is to determine if lifting weight, smoking status, occupational work, and diabetes were predictors for recurrent lumbar disk herniation (rLDH) leading to reoperation and if the outcome can be influenced by the reoperated level and side. Method From June 2010 to July 2019, the 2196 consecutive patients who underwent first-time single-level lumbar discectomy at our institution were revised. Data on first and second lumbar spine surgery were brought into the analysis. Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis was performed to determine whether lifting weight, smoking status, occupational work, and diabetes were predictors for recurrent lumbar disk herniation. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis was performed for repeated lumbar disc herniation excision at the L4L5 and L5S1 levels independently. Results From the 101(4.59%) patients that presented with recurrent lumbar disc herniation (rLDH), 75 cases (3.41%) met the inclusion criteria. There were 54 cases of ipsilateral recurrent herniation and 21 contralateral. The group of diabetes patients who smoke was at high risk (Odds 2.77) of rapid recurrence of lumbar disc prolapse. Only the group of patients reoperated on the opposite side at the L4L5 level showed very less recurrence risk (Odd ratio 1.01) for lumbar disc prolapses compared to those reoperated on the same side who are 6.73 times at risk of recurrence. Conclusions Coexisting diabetes and smoking status increase the risk of rLDH and the patient’s outcome is favorable with pain-free after reoperation without the need for physiotherapy when the recurrence is on the same level and opposite side.