The technical term for a facelift procedure is rhytidectomy. The main purpose of a rhytidectomy procedure is to tighten the skin that has become loose and less elastic with age, as well as tighten and tone the muscle of the face, while reducing, in some cases, unnecessary fat content. Some facelifts have other procedures performed to create balance and promote an overall rejuvenated look.

A facelift procedure involves the pulling of the skin to decrease excess and less leastic facial tissue. An incision is made just inside the hairline near the temples that extend down to the ears, and continuing toward the lower back of the head. The skin is tehn pulled back to create a younger, more toned look. Rhytidectomy procedures are inpatient hospital procedures involving general anesthesia. Cosmetic facelift surgery lasts approximately two to five hours, depending on whether the patient and doctor have agreed to other cosmetic procedures in conjunction with the facelift.

There are different types of facelift procedures that can be done to rejuvenate the face. A procedure called "contour thread" offers an alternative to general anesthesia and is said to be a less invasive process than a surgical facelift. This cosmetic procedure is beneficial for persons seeing the first hints of aging and is used as an aid to lifting the neck, face and brow areas. The "threads" have barbs at their ends and redirect the skin in a different manner than traditional facelifts.

Persons wishing to have facial enhancements may explore options of endoscopic facelift procedures and laser facelift treatments. Endoscope facelifts involve incisions of less than one inch being made behind the patient's hairline. A camera small enough to fit inside the incision is inserted on the end of a probe, and through the use of a computer screen the physician can supervise the entire facelift process. Endoscopic facelifts are performed as outpatient surgery and recovery time for patients is usually less than 2 weeks. Laser facelifts procedures involve a resurfacing of the skin of the face to eliminate or significantly reduce wrinkles and lines. This procedure reportedly enhances collagen below the surface of the skin. It has been used for the areas surrounding the mouth and eyes and is a non invasive technique with a fast recovery time.

Facelifts are within the top 5 surgical procedures performed in the United States. The average cost of a traditional facelift is between $5,000 and $9,500 dollars. The cost of facelift techniques using different techniques varies, and due to the fact that facelifts are an elective procedure, most insurance companies reject paying for them.