Revision Rhinoplasty (Secondary Rhinoplasty)

One of Dr. Mandell-Brown’s areas of expertise is revision rhinoplasty. Patients from the Greater Cincinnati area and throughout the United States seek his care to perform secondary nose surgery when they are unhappy with their primary rhinoplasty.

How Revision Rhinoplasty Is Performed

By taking cartilage from the septum or inside of the nose and, at times, taking cartilage from the ear (without noticeably changing its shape), Dr. Mandell-Brown can smooth irregularities, build up areas, and help refine the nose.

“Many times, I simply need to make a minor correction,” Cincinnati Magazine’s Top Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr. Mandell-Brown, commented. “However, some patients need a major revision to improve their nose,” he added.

“Our goal is an aesthetically pleasing nose that fits the individual’s face and looks natural,” observed Dr. Mandell-Brown. “I find revision nasal surgery very demanding yet very satisfying when the patient achieves the result they always wanted.”

Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown

Dr. Mandell Brown is a nationally recognized, triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing facial, breast, and body procedures. Known for his Natural Look™ cosmetic surgery results, Dr. Mandell-Brown has the credentials and aesthetic eye to precisely tailor your procedure and safely achieve the results you desire.

Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty   

Dr. Mandell-Brown typically makes incisions inside the nose to conceal all scars. However, some revision nose surgery may require the “open” rhinoplasty approach. In an open rhinoplasty, an incision is made along the columella, which is the tissue between the two nostrils at the base of your nose. 

Although this approach requires an outside incision, Dr. Mandell-Brown is meticulous in placing the incision along your nose contours so the resulting scar is hidden within the natural shadows of your nose. Most patients report that their scar is virtually imperceptible, and many secondary rhinoplasty patients from other surgeons already have an open rhinoplasty scar. During your consultation, Dr. Mandell-Brown will assess your nose and facial features and consider your goals to determine which approach is right for you. 

Liquid Rhinoplasty

Some revision rhinoplasty patients can benefit from “liquid rhinoplasty,” where our doctors place small amounts of soft tissue dermal fillers such as RHA® or Restylane® into the nose to fill out irregularities or indentations. Sometimes, fillers can be used to build up the nose or rotate the tip upward. The soft tissue fillers have the benefit of achieving noteworthy improvement without surgery or downtime. The effects of a liquid rhinoplasty can last between 6 to 12 months and can be maintained with touch-up injections.

Recovering from Revision Rhinoplasty

The recovery following revision rhinoplasty is similar to the original rhinoplasty surgery for our patients—typically about one week.  When the splint over the nose and any internal splints are removed at the one-week post-op appointment, patients are then free to return to school or most jobs. Jobs that require strenuous lifting or bending may require an extra week or two, and we’ll discuss appropriate restrictions on a case-by-case basis. Most of our patients feel comfortable in public at the end of the first week once some of the swelling and bruising has lessened.  

Like the recovery guidelines for a primary rhinoplasty, you’ll need to sleep on your back for six weeks and follow all aftercare protocols we provide to ensure a safe, smooth recovery and pleasing results. Postoperative follow-up visits are scheduled at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. 

Dr. Mandell-Brown also prefers to follow up with rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty patients once a year if they are able to come to the office in Springboro or Cincinnati.

Preparing for Your Revision Rhinoplasty

If you are within or near the tri-state area, you’ll have a thorough consultation with Dr. Mandell Brown to discuss your concerns and revision rhinoplasty goals. He will share his professional recommendations on which rhinoplasty technique will best achieve your cosmetic and functional goals, and we’ll take photos for evaluation and comparison purposes. These images are also used to help you communicate your aesthetic vision with Dr. Mandell-Brown and visualize the potential outcome of your surgery.

Many out-of-town patients considering revision nasal surgery email their photos to Dr. Mandell-Brown; it is helpful to include a frontal, full-face view, lateral views (left and right sides), and a base view of the nostrils.He uses computer imaging to help you get an idea of the potential goals of surgery so you feel more comfortable traveling to Cincinnati for rhinoplasty. It’s important to note that results in computer imaging cannot be guaranteed due to individual patient healing processes and their unique skin and cartilage physiology.

The Cost of Revision Rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty is a highly difficult procedure to perform, and Dr. Mandell-Brown designs a personalized surgical plan based on the specific needs of each individual patient. During your consultation at the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center, our team will go over the expected cost of your revision rhinoplasty in Cincinnati and discuss the payment and financing options available to you.

Schedule a Consultation

If you desire further improvement from your primary rhinoplasty or are experiencing issues following your rhinoplasty procedure, you may be an ideal candidate for revision rhinoplasty. We invite you to contact The Plastic Surgery Experts at the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Mandell-Brown is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who is dedicated to providing the best revision rhinoplasty results Cincinnati, Dayton, Centerville, Springboro, and Louisville have to offer.

Areas Served


Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown — Updated on Mar 11, 2024