What Is a Facelift?

Most facelift journeys don't start in an operating room. They start in a consultation chair, with a mirror, a conversation about what has changed in the lower face and neck, and a surgeon explaining — honestly — what surgery can and can't do. A facelift, known medically as a rhytidectomy, is an operation that lifts and repositions the deeper tissues of the face and removes loose skin, so the jawline and cheeks look firmer rather than pulled tight. The video at the top of this page, "Facial Plastic Surgery" (about four and a half minutes), sets it in context: cosmetic facial plastic surgery is surgery performed to enhance the visual appearance of the facial structures and features, and its list of common procedures puts facelifts alongside eye lifts, rhinoplasty, chin and cheek implants, liposuction, and procedures to correct facial wrinkles. This guide walks you through what to expect at each stage if you are considering one.

Before the day: the consultation and the plan

Expect the first appointment to be mostly listening and measuring. Your surgeon will look at where volume has descended, how much loose skin there is along the jaw and neck, and the condition of your skin itself, then talk through which changes a facelift addresses well — typically sagging in the mid and lower face, jowls, and looseness under the chin — and which it does not, such as fine surface lines or changes around the eyes and forehead. Those neighbouring areas have their own operations, covered in our guides to blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and rhinoplasty, and they are sometimes discussed together, but each is a separate decision. You should also expect a plain conversation about anaesthesia, recovery time, scarring, and cost, and time to go away and think — a good consultation never ends in a signature.

What happens on the day itself

On the day, the operation is usually done under a general anaesthetic or deep sedation with local anaesthetic, in a hospital or accredited surgical facility. Incisions are typically placed where they can be hidden — around the ear and into the hairline — so the surgeon can reach the layer beneath the skin. It is that deeper layer, the supporting tissue of the face, that is lifted and secured in a higher position; the skin is then redraped over it and the excess trimmed away, rather than the skin simply being stretched. Fat may be removed or repositioned where the plan calls for it — when liposuction is combined with the lift, the second video on this page, "Liposuction & Facelift" (a little over two minutes), shows that combined approach. Our separate guide to liposuction explains that technique on its own. Most people go home the same day or after one night, with a supportive dressing or bandage and clear instructions for the first few days.

The first weeks: recovery, honestly described

Recovery is measured in weeks, not days, and it helps to plan for that. Bruising and swelling are expected and are usually most noticeable in the first week or two before steadily settling; keeping your head raised and following your team's instructions about activity, wound care, and follow-up appointments all matter. Stitches are removed at staged visits, and your surgeon will check healing and the position of the tissues as the swelling comes down. Many people feel comfortable being seen in public after a couple of weeks, but the final settling — the point where the result looks soft and natural rather than operated on — takes longer, and numbness or tightness around the cheeks and ears can linger while nerves recover. Any sudden increase in pain or swelling on one side, fever, or wound changes should be reported to your surgical team promptly rather than waited out.

What a facelift can and cannot do

It helps to hold two ideas at once. A well-planned facelift can restore a cleaner jawline and a less tired lower face for years, because it repositions tissue rather than just tightening skin. It does not stop ageing, change your fundamental facial structure, or improve skin texture on its own — and it is not a treatment for medical problems of the face. Results, risks, and suitability vary a great deal between individuals, which is exactly why the consultation stage matters so much: the right question is never "should everyone have this?" but "is this the right operation for my face, my health, and my expectations?" A surgeon who talks you out of surgery when it isn't right for you is giving you good care, not a lost sale.

References & further reading

- MedlinePlus — Facelift (Medical Encyclopedia): https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002989.htm
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Facelift: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/facelift
- MedlinePlus — Aging Skin: https://medlineplus.gov/skinaging.html

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician-scientist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a facelift and a mini facelift?
A full facelift addresses the mid and lower face and usually the neck through longer incisions around the ear, lifting the deeper tissue layer. A mini facelift uses shorter incisions and a more limited lift, aimed at earlier, milder sagging. Which suits you depends on how much change is needed, which is a consultation decision.

Does a facelift remove wrinkles?
Only indirectly. By repositioning descended tissue and removing loose skin, a facelift softens the folds caused by sagging, but it does not resurface the skin itself — fine lines and surface texture are a separate issue, as the anchor video notes in listing wrinkle procedures separately.

How long does recovery take?
Bruising and swelling are most noticeable in the first week or two and then steadily settle. Many people feel presentable after a couple of weeks, but full settling takes longer, and temporary numbness or tightness is common while tissues heal.

Where are the scars?
Incisions are usually placed around the ear and into the hairline so scars sit in natural creases and are covered by hair once healed. Your surgeon should show you exactly where yours would be placed before you decide.

Is a facelift permanent?
The repositioning lasts for years, but it does not stop the ageing process — your face continues to age from its new position. How long results look their best varies with skin quality, sun exposure, smoking, and general health.

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD
Physician-scientist · Founder, MedicalVideos.com

Dr. Ibrahim founded MedicalVideos.com in 2007 to make medical and surgical education freely accessible to students, clinicians, and patients.

Last reviewed: 11/11/26

This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. It does not replace consultation with a qualified clinician. Decisions about cosmetic surgery should be made with a properly qualified surgeon after an in-person assessment.