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

That said, the best facelift is not determined solely by the technique. —Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026

The authors of an article published this year in Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine tracked 93 revision facelifts from a single-surgeon’s practice over a 30-year period. —Michele Promaulayko, Allure, 17 June 2026

News about going further than a facelift. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

Swap Out the Hardware All the designers agree that swapping out the hardware on your cabinets can instantly give your kitchen space a facelift. —Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 June 2026

Give it a facelift by refreshing the grout and using interesting paint colors nearby. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026

After months of back-and-forth, O'Donnell had a facelift in January. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

The actress, comedian, and former TV host addressed her decision to be open about her new facelift on the red carpet of the 2026 Tony Awards. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 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