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

Housed in a 1920s white barn given a modern facelift by interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the bookstore exudes serenity. —Elycia Rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2024

The facelift is a key facet of Post publisher and chief executive Will Lewis’s plan to turn around the publication’s fortunes on behalf of owner Jeff Bezos This year the Post is forecast to lose about $50 million, an improvement over last year’s $77 million loss, but still an unsatisfactory result. —Brian Stelter, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024

In the decade since, the restaurant has undergone an interior and exterior facelift while maintaining its original menu and excellent standards. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024

The facelift would add new green space, art and public amenities to a drab stretch of South Broad Street from City Hall to Washington Avenue. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 10 July 2024

Egypt’s second-largest ancient temple is getting a facelift. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024

Driving the news: The theater got a facelift, featuring new seats in the three auditoriums, screens, and projection and sound systems. —Shafaq Patel, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024

And in contrast to fillers, which require constant upkeep, a facelift can last a decade or more. —Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 23 July 2024

In theory, taking a dive bar and giving it a thoughtful facelift doesn’t sound like a recipe for long-term success in today’s fickle nightlife scene. —Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 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