facelift

IPA/ˈfeɪslɪft/
KK[fˈeslˌɪft]IPA/ˈfeɪslɪft/

facelift — noun

  • faceliftsingular
  • faceliftsplural

1. a surgical procedure that pulls back and tightens the skin on someone's face so

1.nounC1
Definition

a surgical procedure that pulls back and tightens the skin on someone's face so they appear less wrinkled and several years younger.

Example

Renata flew to Seoul for a facelift before her 60th birthday.

have/get a facelift — countable noun for the operation

The actor admitted in an interview that he had had two facelifts.

present-perfect 'had had a facelift' for past procedures

Common collocations
  • have a facelift
  • get a facelift
  • undergo a facelift
  • recover from a facelift
Synonyms
  • rhytidectomy

    the formal medical term used by surgeons; rarely heard outside clinical settings

  • cosmetic surgery

    broader category that includes facelifts, nose jobs, and other appearance-changing operations

Grammar Patterns

have a facelift

get a facelift

Usage Note

Frequently appears with 'have' or 'get' rather than 'do'. The plural 'facelifts' refers either to repeated procedures on one person or to the service offered by a clinic.

Common Mistakes

She did a facelift last year.
She had a facelift last year.
patients 'have' a facelift; the surgeon performs it.
a face lift' (two words).
a facelift' (one word)
modern dictionaries treat it as a single word; 'face-lift' with a hyphen is also accepted.

2. improvements that update the look of a building, vehicle, product, or place with

2.nounC1
Definition

improvements that update the look of a building, vehicle, product, or place without changing its underlying structure — for example, a fresh paint job and new signs on an old shopping centre.

Example

The old library is finally getting a facelift after thirty years.

get a facelift — passive-like collocation for buildings

Mira gave her bedroom a quick facelift with new curtains and fresh paint.

give [something] a facelift — typical pattern with possessor

Common collocations
  • give [something] a facelift
  • much-needed facelift
  • digital facelift
  • mid-cycle facelift
Synonyms
  • makeover

    very similar; often used for people, fashion, or rooms; slightly more informal

  • revamp

    stronger word that may include structural or functional changes, not just appearance

  • refurbishment

    more formal; often used for shops, hotels, and offices that are temporarily closed for the work

Grammar Patterns

give something a facelift

undergo a facelift

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to surface improvements (paint, signs, fittings, branding) rather than rebuilding. If the work changes the underlying structure, use 'renovation' or 'overhaul' instead.

Common Mistakes

They built a new wing — a real facelift.
They built a new wing
a major renovation.' — a facelift is cosmetic; structural work needs a different word.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe improving something's appearance, but the scope and register differ. 'Facelift' is the most surface-level: a coat of paint, new signs, refreshed branding. 'Makeover' overlaps heavily with facelift but tends toward people, rooms, and styling rather than buildings or products. 'Revamp' is stronger and often implies functional changes — a website revamp may include a new navigation menu, not just a new colour scheme. 'Refurbishment' is the most formal and typically involves a temporary closure: a hotel refurbishment may replace carpets, beds, and bathrooms throughout. Compare: 'The shop had a quick facelift over the weekend' (paint and signs only), 'The shop is closed for a six-month refurbishment' (whole interior being rebuilt).

facelift ↗makeover ↗revamp ↗refurbishment

Common collocations

Nouns

  • facelift surgery
  • facelift procedure

Phrases

  • have a facelift
  • get a facelift
  • give [something] a facelift
  • much-needed facelift

Prepositions

  • after a facelift
  • before a facelift

Etymology

English

A 20th-century compound of 'face' + 'lift', recording the surgical procedure that physically lifts and tightens facial skin. The figurative sense — cosmetic updates to a building, product, or brand — appeared shortly afterward as the surgical meaning became widely known, applying the same image of a tightening, freshening visual update.