A cosmetic surgical procedure to tighten facial skin and reduce wrinkles, or a general renovation that improves appearance.
Compound of 'face' (Old English origin) and 'lift' (Old Norse origin), literally describing lifting the face. The term became popular in the 1920s with cosmetic surgery advances.
The first 'facelifts' in the 1920s were so crude that surgeons literally cut and stitched skin with basic sutures—modern techniques are wildly different but use the same basic idea!
Cosmetic surgery language reflects gendered beauty standards and pressure; 'facelift' entered common metaphor during mid-20th century when cosmetic surgery marketing targeted women's aging as deficit requiring surgical 'correction.'
Use 'renovation,' 'refresh,' or 'redesign' for non-surgical contexts. For surgical procedures, use clinical term 'rhytidectomy' or 'cosmetic surgery' and avoid language implying aging is damage.
["renovation","refresh","redesign","updating"]
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