The tears can be small and that means that you will have a lot of the meniscies remaining and your knee will adjust after that. Many topathletes undergo this surgery and get back to their sports again, so why shouldn't you be able ? Be straightforward to your OS and make your concerns clear.
In some cases where the tear is in area with bloodsupply you can instead have a repair. That means longer recovery, but also more of meniscus saved.