Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the most successful procedure in orthopedic and trauma surgery. Patients' expectations of joint replacement surgery prior to and after the procedure are often discounted. This study investigated the expectations of patients before and 3 years after THA or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 130 patients (70 hips, 60 knees) received a modified FFbH-OA survey with 6 additional questions concerning patients' expectations before and 3 years after joint replacement surgery. The overall response rate was 78.8% (101 patients). Patients who underwent THA had a mean age of 63.7 years, and those who underwent TKA had a mean age of 67.4 years. Sixty-three percent of all respondents reported that their expectations had been fulfilled or exceeded 3 years postoperatively (THA, 65%; TKA, 61%). A high negative correlation in the THA group could be seen between patients' expectations and clinical scores: the lower the clinical score, the less the patient's expectations had been fulfilled. A statistically significant increase of change in personal relationships was found, as well as a statistically significant decrease in worries and less complications than had been expected before joint replacement. Thirty-seven percent of all respondents felt that their expectations regarding joint replacement had not been fulfilled. Looking at the results of this study, the 37% of patients whose expectations had not been fulfilled did not exhibit a lower postoperative functioning than those who were satisfied.