Five nose jobs later ...

The Do Over: As cosmetic surgery becomes more common, doctors are seeing more and more patients who need corrective surgery.

DENISE KUMPEL knew something was wrong as soon as the swelling went down. Her right nostril just didn't have enough substance to stay up. Within six weeks it had collapsed, and she was back in surgery again to fix what turned out to be a botched nose job.

A few weeks after the second rhinoplasty, she realized that her latest nose was abnormally flat, as if it were sinking into her face. She looked for a new surgeon.

Not one, not two, but three more operations followed over the next three years at a cost of more than $30,000. Finally, nine months ago, using cartilage from her ears, Ms. Kumpel said, she got the results she had originally sought.