Most patients (about 90%) are satisfied with their surgery. Those who are unhappy with the results fall into one of three groups. The first group of patients are unhappy in the first few weeks after surgery. These are often the patients who are most worried about getting a good result and are disappointed when after a week or two they realize the limitations of surgery. A short period of depression is not uncommon.
The second group expressed their dissatisfaction a few months after surgery when they discover that the operation will not make a major change in their life. Depression may also occur in this group but is often tinged with anger, which is sometimes directed at the surgeon.
For a small third group of patients the disappointment may come a year or so after surgery when they realize that the operation does not completely remove all of the appearance of gynecomastia and that they must learn to live with the final result.