Plaster repair

Hi everyone I'm new to the site and have a question. I have just purchased a older home that has plaster eveything (ceiling and walls). A portion of the ceiling is cracking and falling down how hard is it to do repairs, what should I be concerned with doing it myself? Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

How old is the house? Is it plaster over wood lath?
How large an area threatens to fall?
Precautions:
Don't walk under the sagging plaster.
Don't sit under the sagging plaster.
Don't leave valuable furnishings under the sagging plaster.

At this point you might be able to use plaster washers (do a google search) and draw it back up to the lath and the lath to the joists then treat the crack and the holes like drywall joints and hail spots.

But, especially if the ceiling is smooth, it might be easier to take the loose plaster out and patch it. I think there are plenty of posts here telling you how to do that. The plasterers want you to do it with plaster. The rest want you to do it with drywall and joint mud.
Plaster is best but more intimidating.
search around here a little and if you realy can't find it we can tell you again. I have stiff fingers and don't want type again right now.

 

Tightcoat is right.

Plasterers will want you to replaster, drywallers will say remove and patch. (Do you like chocolate or vanilla is the real question here? )

If it is really loose, I would remove the bad part and repair. If it is a small area and can be pulled tight again I would try that first.

May the force be with you...(unless the force is gravity of course!)