facelift

noun

face·​lift ˈfās-ˌlift 

variants or face lift or face-lift

plural facelifts or face lifts or face-lifts

1

: plastic surgery on the face and neck to remove or reduce signs of aging (such as wrinkles or sagging skin)

[Robert] Redford's publicist of 33 years, Lois Smith, denies her client has had any sort of facelift, eye job or chemical peel. "He's never, never, never had cosmetic surgery," she says.

—People Weekly

Many face lifts last between five and 10 years, but the procedure can cause hematomas, bleeding and nerve damage …

—Mary Murphy

Technically, a face-lift "lifts" both the face and the neck, and many plastic surgeons believe the neck shows the more dramatic improvement.

—Vogue

2

: an alteration, restoration, or restyling (as of a building) intended especially to modernize

The facelift was intended to return the 95-year-old hall's acclaimed acoustics to original purity …

—US News & World Report

Over time, the building was given a $15 million face lift, which created a new entrance on Fifth Avenue, subdued but plush interiors and escalators.

—Carrie Donovan

All 48 models from kids bikes to $3,000 racing bikes were redesigned … and each got a color and graphics face-lift.

—Laura Loro

facelift transitive verb

or face-lift or less commonly face lift

facelifted or face-lifted also face lifted; facelifting or face-lifting also face lifting; facelifts or face-lifts also face lifts

… said she would like to add more parking and continue to work on facelifting the venue.

—Dean Manning

… a former vaudeville palace recently face-lifted into a glittering performing arts center.

—Priit Vesilind

Examples of facelift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the post, Corcoran said she's had three facelifts, a lower eyelid skin pinch, a brow lift, a neck lift and an eyelift. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 18 June 2025

News host opens up about going under the knife for a facelift, a neck lift, and blepharoplasty on her eyes. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 18 June 2025

Picking the right type of facelift Deep plane facelift, mini lift, and more—there are many types of facelifts to choose from. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 16 June 2025

The exterior design changes are more noticeable than with the Tesla Model 3 facelift. —James Morris, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025

This tired home requires a full facelift, both inside and outside. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025

Officials are on track to spend about $700 million to give John Wayne Airport a facelift by 2031, touching nearly every corner of the more than 510-acre facility. —Destiny Torres, Oc Register, 16 May 2025

At Olive Peirce, the facelift included adding a sensory garden and mural, planting trees and refreshing landscaping in planters, and building two new block walls at the entrance for Olive Peirce signs. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025

The dining room is starting to show signs of a facelift, with lush plants punctuating the room. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for facelift

• adrift
• airlift
• festschrift
• forklift
• gearshift
• makeshift
• redshift
• sealift
• snowdrift
• spendthrift
• clift
• drift

Kids Definition

face-lift

noun

ˈfā-ˌslift

1

: plastic surgery on the face and neck to remove defects and imperfections (as wrinkles or sagging skin)

2

: an alteration, restoration, or remodeling (as of a building) intended especially to make more modern

face-lift verb

Medical Definition

facelift

noun

face·​lift

variants or face lift or face-lift

ˈfā-ˌslift 

: plastic surgery on the face and neck to remove or reduce signs of aging (such as wrinkles or sagging skin)

called also rhytidectomy

facelift transitive verb

or face-lift also face lift