With age, the skin naturally begins to wrinkle and sag due to a loss of  elasticity, as well as the long-term effects of exposure to the sun. A face-lift (also known as a rhytidectomy), is a type of cosmetic surgery that reverses these changes to some extent.

If you are considering a face-lift, you can get a rough idea of what the results might be simply by lying flat on a pillow and looking up into a hand mirror. For the most accurate image, hold the mirror in both hands and raise your arms perpendicular to your body until the mirror is directly over your face.

Because you are lying on your back, excess facial skin falls back to your ears, leaving your jaw firmer and your face smoother, with fewer lines. In a face-lift, the plastic surgeon removes this excess skin. A a result, you may look 5-15 years younger.