Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cosmetic surgical procedure: "face lifting" refers to plastic surgery intended to remove wrinkles and sagging skin from the face and neck to create a more youthful appearance.
   • A renovation or improvement of appearance: "face lifting" also describes any act of renovating or improving the outward appearance of something, such as a building or product, often without making fundamental structural changes.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Surgical Procedure): She considered a face lifting to address the signs of aging. The recovery period after a face lifting can be several weeks.

• Noun (Renovation): The old theater received a complete face lifting. The software update was merely a face lifting, not a complete redesign.

Advanced Usage

• "to give something a face lifting": to renovate or improve the appearance of something. The city gave the central park a face lifting with new benches and landscaping.

• "more than a face lifting": implying that changes are fundamental, not just superficial. The company's restructuring was more than a face lifting; it changed its entire business model.

Variants and Related Words

• Facelift (n): A common alternative spelling for "face lifting." The building underwent a major facelift.

• Rhytidectomy (n): The formal medical term for a surgical face lift. The surgeon specialized in rhytidectomy procedures.

Synonyms

• Cosmetic surgery: Medical specialty focused on improving appearance.
• Renovation: The process of repairing and improving a structure.
• Refurbishment: The act of renovating and redecorating.

Related Phrases

• "A nip and tuck": An informal idiom for a minor cosmetic surgery procedure or a small improvement.

Notes on Meaning

The term can describe both a specific medical procedure and a metaphorical process of superficial improvement. The context determines whether the reference is to physical surgery or general renovation.

Noun

1. plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and other signs of aging from your face; an incision is made near the hair line and skin is pulled back and excess tissue is excised
   • some actresses have more than one face lift
2. a renovation that improves the outward appearance (as of a building) but usually does not involve major changes
   • give your home a facelift
   • more than a facelift, the new model marks a fundamental change of direction