In the nuanced world of facelifts, the encyclopedic array of buzzwords thrown around—both by surgeons and social media users—can not only overwhelm potential patients but convolute the entire procedure. Deep plane, SMAS, mini lift, full lift, lower facelift… the list goes on. And on. Though one of the latest terms to resurge in popularity is the so-called Ponytail Facelift.

We asked surgeons for clarification on what, exactly, the ponytail lift refers to, the specific maneuvers it may or may not entail, and what they want everyone to know before diving down a rabbit hole of trademarked plastic surgeries.