facelift

American  

[feys-lift] / ˈfeɪsˌlɪft /

Or face-lift

noun

1. plastic surgery on the face for elevating sagging tissues and eliminating wrinkles and other signs of age; rhytidectomy.

2. a renovation or restyling, as of a room or building, intended to give an attractive, more up-to-date appearance.

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verb (used with object)

1. to perform a surgical facelift upon.

2. to renovate or restyle in order to give a fresher, more modern appearance.

   Our old offices have been facelifted with new furniture, rugs, and plants.

Etymology

Origin of facelift

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Explanation

A facelift is a surgical procedure that's meant to tighten the skin of the face in order to make a patient look younger. Wealthy people who hate their wrinkles may be tempted to have a facelift. Many older actors in Hollywood give into the temptation of having a facelift, instead of accepting the facial changes that naturally come with age. But facelifts are very expensive, can be dangerous, and frequently result in a strangely expressionless visage. A figurative facelift is anything that improves something's appearance: "While I was away, my sister gave my boring bedroom a facelift, painting the walls purple and replacing my old bedding."

Example Sentences

Zarin concluded her video by commenting on Lady Gaga’s appearance, claiming the pop star had gotten a facelift and that she needed Google to help identify her.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

In July, the cost of the Fed's facelift of its 88-year-old Washington headquarters and a neighboring building was up by $600 million from an initial $1.9 billion estimate.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

The new “RHONY” lasted two seasons before being sent back to the factory for another facelift, and the series remains in limbo.

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2025

USAir’s betrayal was a particular nightmare given how the airport’s facelift had been funded.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2025

Presumably Fran, and not her facelift, is like Alice.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner