What Is a Facelift?
March 1, 2026
If the face and neck have started to look older to you, a facelift is one of the surgeries people turn to. It is among the most common cosmetic procedures, and it works on the visible signs of aging rather than the deeper structure of the face.
There is no single version of it. Several types exist, so the smart first move is to read up and then talk it through with your doctor to figure out which one fits you.
Simulated demonstration of a deep-plane SMAS facelift. Midface lifted, jowls removed, jawline sharpened and neck tightened on the same identity — restoring roughly a decade of perceived youthfulness.
What is a facelift (rhytidectomy)?
A facelift, also called rhytidectomy, is surgery that improves the signs of aging in the face and neck. The surgeon does this by removing or repositioning the tissues that make those signs show in the first place: skin, fat, and muscle. (1)
It can soften a lot of what reads as an older face:
- Sagging, relaxed skin on the face.
- Folds and creases between the corners of the mouth and the nose.
- Loss of facial fat.
- Jowls, the excess skin that gathers along the cheeks.
- A double chin, where loose skin and extra fat sit under the neck.
It is one of the better restorative surgeries, but it has limits. It will not change how you look completely, and it will not stop you from aging. It also will not help with superficial wrinkles, sun damage, or uneven skin color. (2)
Every facelift is built around the person having it, so this really is a conversation to have with your doctor, who can tell you whether you are a good candidate.
What happens during facelift surgery?
A facelift moves through a few stages, and here is what each one looks like. (3)
Anesthesia
The surgery is done either under general anesthesia, so you are fully asleep, or with IV sedation. Your doctor will recommend the better option for you based on the type of facelift you are having.
The incision
Where the incision goes depends on which facelift you get. It can sit in one of these places:
- Around the ears.
- At the lower part of the scalp.
- Under the chin.
- Inside the mouth.
- In the hairline at the temples.
The size of the incision changes with the type of procedure too, so go over these details with your surgeon before the day itself.
The procedure
From there, the surgeon removes or relocates facial fat and skin, then tightens the muscles underneath. The exact steps depend on the type of facelift you are undergoing. In some cases every step is done, in others only a few, so ask your surgeon to walk you through what will actually happen.
Closing the incisions
Once the work is finished, the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches, skin glue, or stitches that come out after a few days.
Mild laxity often responds to non-surgical tightening or thread lifts. Established jowls and midface descent need at least a mini-facelift; severe laxity calls for the full deep-plane procedure.
What happens after a facelift?
Right after surgery you are taken to an observation area until you are fully awake. Once you are stable, you can leave the hospital, which usually takes a couple of hours. (4)
A bandage may sit around your face for several hours to keep swelling and bruising down, and in some cases small drainage tubes are used as well.
Before you go home, your doctor gives you a list of instructions to follow, usually about caring for the incision sites and the drains. You will also schedule a follow-up so they can check the results. If you are in pain, your surgeon can prescribe a painkiller to keep it under control.
What are the benefits of a facelift?
After the surgery the signs of aging should fade and your face should look more youthful. For most people the real draw is confidence, simply feeling better about how they look. (5)
Deep-plane and extended SMAS techniques hold for 10-15 years on average; mini-facelifts last 5-7. Thread lifts are minimally invasive but their lift dissolves within 1-2 years.
What are the risks and complications?
Every cosmetic surgery carries the same set of risks. Most are rare, but they can happen, and for a facelift the list looks like this. (6)
- Anesthesia problems.
- Infection, especially at the surgical site.
- Blood pooling under the skin, known as a hematoma.
- Numbness and reduced skin sensation.
- Facial nerve injury.
- Hair loss at the incision sites, which can be temporary or permanent.
- Swelling.
- Scars.
- Changes in skin color and tone.
A few other things are worth holding onto:
- Aging never stops, though the effects of the surgery itself last up to 10 years.
- However good the result, a facelift will not change your appearance fundamentally.
- It is not recommended for superficial wrinkles, skin color changes, or sun damage.
Facelift recovery and outlook
Expect swelling and bruising for about 2 to 3 weeks. Some people take longer to heal, and that is normal.
The bandages usually come off a few days in. While you recover, you will see your surgeon so they can check the incision sites, look at the swelling and bruising, and remove the stitches.
Full recovery depends on a few things, like the type of surgery and your overall health. Your face may take 2 to 3 months to heal completely.
How much does a facelift cost?
In the USA, a facelift can run up to $8,000. That figure is for the surgery alone and leaves out other costs like anesthesia and the operating room, so settle the final fee with your surgeon before the procedure.
The surgeon's own fee shifts with their level of experience, your location, and the type of procedure you are having.
Health insurance usually does not cover this, since it is elective. Your plastic surgeon may offer financing plans though, so it is worth asking what is available.