GITNUXREPORT 2025

Plastic Surgery Regret Statistics

Plastic surgery regret affects 5-22% of patients, driven by expectations, complications, psychology.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Patients who suffer complications are twice as likely to regret plastic surgeries

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A significant factor in regret is the occurrence of post-surgical complications, affecting about 25% of dissatisfied patients

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A study shows that younger patients (under 30) have a higher likelihood of regretting plastic surgery, at approximately 18%

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Regret rates are higher in male cosmetic surgery patients compared to females, with a difference of about 4-6%

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Approximately 5-10% of plastic surgery patients report feelings of regret or dissatisfaction

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Around 15% of patients who undergo cosmetic surgery regret their decision within five years

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25% of women in a survey expressed regret after breast augmentation surgery

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Nearly 30% of patients report dissatisfaction with their results after rhinoplasty

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12% of cosmetic surgery patients regret their choice due to unrealistic expectations

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In a survey, 10% of patients regretted their cosmetic surgeries due to complications or unsatisfactory results

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About 20% of patients who regret plastic surgery do so because of changes in their appearance over time

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The prevalence of regret after facial plastic surgeries is approximately 12%

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In a study, 18% of patients who experienced dissatisfaction cited poor communication with their surgeons as a contributing factor to regret

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9% of patients regret liposuction, mainly due to weight regain or lack of satisfaction with results

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14% of patients who experience regret after breast augmentation report dissatisfaction with size or shape

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8% of patients who undergo tummy tuck surgery regret their decision due to complications or unmet expectations

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A survey indicates that 10-20% of rhinoplasty patients experience some form of regret, especially regarding asymmetry or nasal function

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About 11% of patients regret facial procedures due to scarring or unnatural results

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About 5% of patients seeking plastic surgery report regretting their decision within the first year

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13% of breast reconstruction patients experience regret mainly due to issues with appearance or sensation

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17% of patients who have had jawline or chin surgeries regret their procedures mostly because of aesthetic dissatisfaction

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9% of botox patients report dissatisfaction and regret due to uneven effects or complications

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Nearly 8% of eyelid surgery patients express regret, often related to eye shape or scars

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A 2020 survey indicated that 12% of patients regretted their lip fillers due to unnatural appearance or migration

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More than 10% of patients who undergo facial fillers regret their decision within a year, mainly due to functional issues or aesthetic concerns

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About 6% of patients regretchemical peel procedures due to skin damage or dissatisfaction with results

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Regret following cosmetic surgery is more common among patients with unrealistic body image expectations, estimated at 20%

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Studies suggest that about 4-8% of patients regret their cosmetic rhinoplasty, often citing nasal function and appearance concerns

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Of patients who undergo hair transplants, about 3-5% regret due to unmet expectations or complications

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The rate of regret after lipostructure or fat transfer procedures is approximately 7%, especially if results are uneven or asymmetrical

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Nearly 9% of patients who had abdominoplasty regret their decision mainly because of scarring or persistent discomfort

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In a survey, about 19% of patients regret breast surgeries, including reductions and augmentations, mostly due to dissatisfaction with appearance

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Approximately 3-6% of patients report regret after male cosmetic procedures like gynecomastia surgery

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About 20% of plastic surgery patients regret their procedures due to unmet expectations or aesthetic dissatisfaction

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Higher regret rates are observed among patients with a history of previous unsuccessful surgeries, around 22%

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15% of patients who underwent multiple procedures expressed regret over their cumulative outcomes

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Nearly 60% of patients who experience significant scars are more likely to regret their cosmetic procedures

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8% of patients report regret following non-invasive procedures like Botox and fillers, mainly due to immediate complications or dissatisfaction

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The rate of regret among transgender patients after gender confirmation surgery is approximately 5-8%, often linked to psychological readiness

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A study found that 80% of individuals considering cosmetic procedures experience anxiety about the outcome

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67% of plastic surgery patients who regret their procedures cite psychological factors as a primary cause

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A significant portion of plastic surgery regret is linked to post-surgical depression, accounting for 22% of cases

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45% of individuals who seek cosmetic procedures report feeling peer pressure or societal pressure, leading to regret afterwards

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7% of Brazilian women regret their cosmetic surgeries due to psychological impacts, according to a local study

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20% of post-surgical regrets are linked to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), often diagnosed before surgery

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Post-op psychological support reduces regret rates significantly, by approximately 50%, according to a clinical study

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The average regret rate for cosmetic procedures is estimated at 10-15%, depending on the procedure type

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Key Highlights

Approximately 5-10% of plastic surgery patients report feelings of regret or dissatisfaction
A study found that 80% of individuals considering cosmetic procedures experience anxiety about the outcome
Around 15% of patients who undergo cosmetic surgery regret their decision within five years
25% of women in a survey expressed regret after breast augmentation surgery
Nearly 30% of patients report dissatisfaction with their results after rhinoplasty
12% of cosmetic surgery patients regret their choice due to unrealistic expectations
67% of plastic surgery patients who regret their procedures cite psychological factors as a primary cause
In a survey, 10% of patients regretted their cosmetic surgeries due to complications or unsatisfactory results
About 20% of patients who regret plastic surgery do so because of changes in their appearance over time
A significant portion of plastic surgery regret is linked to post-surgical depression, accounting for 22% of cases
45% of individuals who seek cosmetic procedures report feeling peer pressure or societal pressure, leading to regret afterwards
The prevalence of regret after facial plastic surgeries is approximately 12%
In a study, 18% of patients who experienced dissatisfaction cited poor communication with their surgeons as a contributing factor to regret

While plastic surgery promises transformative results, recent statistics reveal that up to 10-15% of patients grapple with regret—highlighting the complex interplay of expectations, psychological factors, and outcomes that can turn dreams into doubts.

Complications, Outcomes, and Long-term Perspectives

Patients who suffer complications are twice as likely to regret plastic surgeries
A significant factor in regret is the occurrence of post-surgical complications, affecting about 25% of dissatisfied patients

Complications, Outcomes, and Long-term Perspectives Interpretation

While looking fabulous may be the goal, these stats remind us that for some, a botched procedure doubles the odds of regret, especially when complications, affecting a quarter of dissatisfied patients, turn beauty dreams into cautionary tales.

Demographics and Specific Patient Groups

A study shows that younger patients (under 30) have a higher likelihood of regretting plastic surgery, at approximately 18%
Regret rates are higher in male cosmetic surgery patients compared to females, with a difference of about 4-6%

Demographics and Specific Patient Groups Interpretation

While youth and gender may give some a confidence boost, the sobering statistic that nearly one in five under-30 patients and a notable gender gap experience regret serves as a reminder that cosmetic surgery's true beauty lies in self-acceptance, not just transformation.

Prevalence of Regret and Dissatisfaction

Approximately 5-10% of plastic surgery patients report feelings of regret or dissatisfaction
Around 15% of patients who undergo cosmetic surgery regret their decision within five years
25% of women in a survey expressed regret after breast augmentation surgery
Nearly 30% of patients report dissatisfaction with their results after rhinoplasty
12% of cosmetic surgery patients regret their choice due to unrealistic expectations
In a survey, 10% of patients regretted their cosmetic surgeries due to complications or unsatisfactory results
About 20% of patients who regret plastic surgery do so because of changes in their appearance over time
The prevalence of regret after facial plastic surgeries is approximately 12%
In a study, 18% of patients who experienced dissatisfaction cited poor communication with their surgeons as a contributing factor to regret
9% of patients regret liposuction, mainly due to weight regain or lack of satisfaction with results
14% of patients who experience regret after breast augmentation report dissatisfaction with size or shape
8% of patients who undergo tummy tuck surgery regret their decision due to complications or unmet expectations
A survey indicates that 10-20% of rhinoplasty patients experience some form of regret, especially regarding asymmetry or nasal function
About 11% of patients regret facial procedures due to scarring or unnatural results
About 5% of patients seeking plastic surgery report regretting their decision within the first year
13% of breast reconstruction patients experience regret mainly due to issues with appearance or sensation
17% of patients who have had jawline or chin surgeries regret their procedures mostly because of aesthetic dissatisfaction
9% of botox patients report dissatisfaction and regret due to uneven effects or complications
Nearly 8% of eyelid surgery patients express regret, often related to eye shape or scars
A 2020 survey indicated that 12% of patients regretted their lip fillers due to unnatural appearance or migration
More than 10% of patients who undergo facial fillers regret their decision within a year, mainly due to functional issues or aesthetic concerns
About 6% of patients regretchemical peel procedures due to skin damage or dissatisfaction with results
Regret following cosmetic surgery is more common among patients with unrealistic body image expectations, estimated at 20%
Studies suggest that about 4-8% of patients regret their cosmetic rhinoplasty, often citing nasal function and appearance concerns
Of patients who undergo hair transplants, about 3-5% regret due to unmet expectations or complications
The rate of regret after lipostructure or fat transfer procedures is approximately 7%, especially if results are uneven or asymmetrical
Nearly 9% of patients who had abdominoplasty regret their decision mainly because of scarring or persistent discomfort
In a survey, about 19% of patients regret breast surgeries, including reductions and augmentations, mostly due to dissatisfaction with appearance
Approximately 3-6% of patients report regret after male cosmetic procedures like gynecomastia surgery
About 20% of plastic surgery patients regret their procedures due to unmet expectations or aesthetic dissatisfaction
Higher regret rates are observed among patients with a history of previous unsuccessful surgeries, around 22%
15% of patients who underwent multiple procedures expressed regret over their cumulative outcomes
Nearly 60% of patients who experience significant scars are more likely to regret their cosmetic procedures
8% of patients report regret following non-invasive procedures like Botox and fillers, mainly due to immediate complications or dissatisfaction
The rate of regret among transgender patients after gender confirmation surgery is approximately 5-8%, often linked to psychological readiness

Prevalence of Regret and Dissatisfaction Interpretation

While plastic surgeons aim to sculpt confidence, the reality that up to 10% of patients harbor regrets—and that nearly a quarter of women regret breast augmentation—serves as a stark reminder that when it comes to perfection, the mirror often reveals more than expected.

Psychological and Psychological Support Factors

A study found that 80% of individuals considering cosmetic procedures experience anxiety about the outcome
67% of plastic surgery patients who regret their procedures cite psychological factors as a primary cause
A significant portion of plastic surgery regret is linked to post-surgical depression, accounting for 22% of cases
45% of individuals who seek cosmetic procedures report feeling peer pressure or societal pressure, leading to regret afterwards
7% of Brazilian women regret their cosmetic surgeries due to psychological impacts, according to a local study
20% of post-surgical regrets are linked to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), often diagnosed before surgery
Post-op psychological support reduces regret rates significantly, by approximately 50%, according to a clinical study

Psychological and Psychological Support Factors Interpretation

Despite the allure of perfection, the staggering statistics reveal that nearly half of those seeking cosmetic procedures regret them, often due to psychological factors and societal pressures—highlighting that, in many cases, true beauty begins with emotional health rather than surgical scars.

Types of Procedures and Associated Regret Rates

The average regret rate for cosmetic procedures is estimated at 10-15%, depending on the procedure type

Types of Procedures and Associated Regret Rates Interpretation

With an estimated 10-15% of patients reflecting on their cosmetic procedures with regret, it's a stark reminder that even in the pursuit of perfection, unpredictability—and sometimes regret—are part of the beauty package.