A facelift is one of the most well-known procedures in cosmetic surgery, broadly involving the surgical repositioning of sagging skin and deeper facial tissue to restore a more lifted, defined appearance in the mid and lower face. We keep this page intentionally brief.1
Facelift is a deep, highly specialized topic — one that dedicated independent resources focused specifically on this procedure cover in far more depth than a broad, roughly 20-procedure guide like this one can reasonably provide. Rather than offer a thin, incomplete version of that deeper content, we've chosen to keep this page at overview level and point you toward the general guidance on this site that still applies: how to choose and vet a surgeon carefully, and how to think about safety for any major facial procedure.
People typically begin researching a facelift when they notice sagging in the jawline, cheeks, or lower face that they feel isn't adequately addressed by non-surgical options — it's generally understood as a bigger surgical undertaking than most single-area procedures covered elsewhere on this site, and deserves the same careful surgeon vetting we recommend for any significant surgery. If you're specifically researching this topic in depth, we'd encourage seeking out an independent resource dedicated to it, in addition to the general safety and surgeon-vetting principles covered here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't this site cover facelift in more depth?
Facelift is a highly specialized, deep topic that dedicated independent resources cover in far more depth than a broad, roughly 20-procedure guide like this one reasonably can. We'd rather point you toward general guidance that applies here and let you seek out that deeper, facelift-specific research separately.
Who typically considers a facelift?
Patients noticing sagging in the mid and lower face and jawline that they feel isn't adequately addressed by non-surgical options typically begin researching facelift surgery. It's generally a bigger surgical undertaking than most single-area procedures on this site.
Is a facelift the same as a neck lift?
No — a neck lift specifically addresses the neck and platysma muscle, while a facelift addresses the mid and lower face more broadly. The two are frequently combined; see our neck lift page for more detail on that specific procedure.
What should I focus on if I'm researching this procedure?
Careful surgeon vetting matters especially for a procedure of this scope — see our Choosing a Surgeon hub for credential verification and consultation guidance that applies broadly.
Does this site cover related procedures in more depth?
Where can I learn about general surgical safety?
See our Safety hub for general guidance on anesthesia, facility accreditation, and risk factors that apply to any major cosmetic procedure, facelift included.