Rhytidectomy is a surgical procedure meant to counteract the effects of time on the aging face. In the rhytidectomy procedure, the tissues under the skin are tightened and excess facial and neck skin are excised. Rhytidectomy literally means wrinkle (rhytid-) removal (-ectomy). The targeted area includes the cheek, midface, jawline, and neck areas. The name is misleading because rhytidectomy does not actually remove wrinkles. Wrinkles are removed by resurfacing procedures like peels or laser therapy. Medications such as botulinum toxin injected into underlying muscle can also soften the appearance of wrinkles. A rhytidectomy may be performed alone or in combination with a forehead lift and/or eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) or nose surgery (rhinoplasty).