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

The expansion plans include adding a new bedroom, expanding the bathrooms, and giving the existing kitchen a facelift. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Walmart’s logo got its first facelift in nearly 20 years. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025

After Sentry joined as title sponsor in 2018, the tournament received its biggest facelift in 2023 as the first-ever elevated event on the Tour as Commissioner Jay Monahan sought ways to increase prize money, participation, excitement and viewership to combat the upstart LIV Golf. —Michael Loré, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Small furniture like end tables, benches, and dining chairs can give your space a facelift instead of having to replace larger, pricier pieces. —Ali Faccenda, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2025

Take advantage of these discounts and give your home a facelift this new year. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025

Guests were also treated to luxury beauty and skin treatments of a $40,000 non-surgical stem cell facelift — offered to one recipient — and a $1,400 oxygen facial at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills for 25 recipients. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025

But things like a non-surgical facelift worth $4,000 and a private flight to stay in Finland and see the Northern Lights worth $48,000 will only be offered to one recipient each. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2025

After a multi-million-dollar facelift, this 1926 icon is ready for its close-up. —Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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