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

But leading up to The Devil Wears Prada 2 (now in theaters), production designer Jess Gonchor knew the set pieces seen in the iconic 2006 blockbuster needed an aesthetic facelift—from the Runway magazine offices to our heroine’s apartment to the climactic overseas hot spot. —Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026

But the area around the ground is undergoing a major facelift ahead of the World Cup. —Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026

In an episode of her daughter Khloé Kardashian's podcast, the 70-year-old businesswoman revealed what one pal in particular texted her about the recent facelift comparisons circulating around the internet. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026

The average cost of a facelift is about $11,000, and many surgeons charge much more, especially those who offer advanced techniques; Talei told me the typical cost for what Richards had done is in the mid-$200,000s. —Rheana Murray, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

The facelift has allowed the venue to bring the high-dollar standard of newer stadiums around the league back to AT&T Stadium. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Thanks to a meticulous $15 million renovation completed in 2020, the rooms and suites received a welcome facelift. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026

In June 2025, Denise Richards underwent a facelift with Ben Talei, MD. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026

Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds wrote that city officials aim to give the facility at Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard, which dates to 1927, a three-year, $40-million facelift. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026

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