Most patients (90%) are satisfied with the result of cosmetic surgery. This does not mean that all patients are happy or get the result that they want. Whether or not patients are happy with the result depends on several factors, for example are happy with their results from a rhinoplasty. Breast augmentation and neck liposuction have high levels of satisfaction.

There is a difference of opinion about the influence of time. Some studies suggest that patients are happier as time passes whereas others show they are less happy. Some reports suggest that eight out of ten patients are happy with the result of cosmetic surgery. About one in ten feels that they did not achieve the desired result and one in ten acknowledges that they look better but do not feel better. It is not possible to know with certainty who will get a good result.