Facial · Brow Lift (Forehead Lift) · Dubai
Are you considering brow lift (forehead lift) in Dubai to enhance your appearance and confidence? Finding the right board-certified specialist is the most critical step in your journey. This guide covers what you need to know about the procedure, recovery, and what to expect from a premier aesthetic clinic in Dubai.
This illustration is for educational purposes only, intended to explain the surgical technique. Individual results and anatomical requirements vary per patient.
What is
Brow lift surgery — also called forehead lift — corrects drooping eyebrows, deep horizontal forehead lines, frown lines between the brows, and upper eyelid hooding caused by brow ptosis rather than excess eyelid skin. Technique selection is based on individual anatomy, hairline position, degree of brow descent, and whether the procedure is combined with other facial surgery.
Endoscopic brow lift is the most minimally invasive brow lift technique. Instead of a single long incision, the surgeon places three to five short incisions of approximately one centimetre behind the hairline. A small camera (endoscope) passed through one incision visualises the surgical field, while instruments through the remaining incisions release and reposition the forehead muscles and brow tissue. The scalp is then secured in its elevated position using small resorbable fixation devices. Advantages include minimal visible scarring, preserved scalp sensation, reduced post-operative swelling, and a faster recovery compared to the coronal approach. The endoscopic brow lift does not raise the hairline — making it well suited to patients with a normal or low frontal hairline and moderate brow ptosis.
The coronal brow lift uses a single incision running across the scalp several centimetres behind the front hairline, from ear to ear. The surgeon lifts the entire forehead as a single unit, removes a strip of excess scalp, and addresses the frontalis and corrugator muscles directly. This technique provides the most comprehensive correction of very deep forehead creases and heavy brow ptosis — but it does raise the hairline by the width of the excised strip. It is best suited to patients with a normal or low hairline, thick scalp skin, or significant forehead laxity beyond the reach of the endoscopic approach.
The temporal brow lift — also called a lateral brow lift or mini brow lift — targets the outer third of the eyebrow specifically, lifting the tail of the brow that descends earliest with ageing and creating a subtle upward arc at the lateral brow. A short incision within the temporal hair leaves no visible scar. The temporal lift is a more limited procedure than a full endoscopic brow lift and is frequently combined with upper or lower blepharoplasty to address lateral eyelid hooding that originates from brow descent rather than excess eyelid skin alone.
For patients with a high or prominent forehead — who would be further disadvantaged by the hairline elevation that coronal technique produces — the hairline brow lift places the incision along the very edge of the front hairline. This removes a strip of forehead skin rather than scalp, lowering the hairline slightly rather than raising it. The resulting scar sits at the hairline junction and typically becomes inconspicuous with healing. Candidacy depends on hair density, skin tone, and individual healing history, and is confirmed during the pre-operative assessment.
For patients not ready for surgery or seeking a lower-commitment option, a thread brow lift uses absorbable or non-absorbable cosmetic threads inserted beneath the skin to lift and reposition the brow. No incisions are required — the threads are introduced through fine entry points, leaving no visible scarring. Recovery is minimal, with results typically visible within days. The thread lift is a less durable option than surgical techniques; longevity depends on the type of threads used and individual tissue response, and is discussed during consultation. It suits patients with mild brow descent seeking a temporary or bridge solution before definitive surgical correction.
Clinical indications for brow lift include: brow ptosis where the brow sits at or below the orbital rim; upper eyelid hooding where the primary cause is brow descent rather than true eyelid excess; asymmetric brows where one side descends more than the other; deep horizontal forehead creases or persistent glabellar frown lines that do not respond adequately to injectable treatments; or a chronically tired or stern expression despite being well-rested. A thorough pre-operative assessment distinguishes brow ptosis from true eyelid ptosis — a distinction critical to selecting the correct procedure and avoiding an inadequate result from standalone blepharoplasty.
Brow lift is frequently performed alongside complementary procedures for patients seeking comprehensive upper facial or total facial rejuvenation. The most common combination is brow lift with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) — addressing brow position and eyelid skin excess in a single operative session, avoiding the clinical error of performing blepharoplasty alone when brow ptosis is the primary driver of upper eyelid heaviness. For broader rejuvenation, brow lift may be combined with facelift surgery to restore the upper and lower thirds of the face simultaneously. Combined procedures are planned during the pre-operative consultation based on individual anatomical priorities and goals.
The Patient Journey: What to Expect
From your first consultation to full recovery, here is what to expect at every stage.
A thorough physical assessment and treatment planning session to align your expectations with anatomical possibilities.
Customized instructions to ensure optimal health and safety before your procedure, based on your individual medical profile.
Performed under appropriate anesthesia in a state-of-the-art facility, with a focus on precision, safety, and natural-looking outcomes.
Dedicated post-operative care and follow-up appointments to monitor progress. Recovery timelines depend on individual anatomy and healing response.
EBOPRAS · MD PhD · 20 yrs
Every procedure on this page is performed by Dr. Bouraoui Kotti — EBOPRAS-certified plastic surgeon, MD PhD, with over 20 years of international experience. Review his credentials, training, and clinical philosophy before your consultation.
View Dr. Kotti's Surgeon ProfileBrow lift and forehead lift refer to the same surgical procedure — the terms are used interchangeably. The operation elevates the position of the eyebrows and smooths the forehead by releasing, repositioning, and where necessary resecting the muscles and soft tissue of the upper face. The preferred term in clinical practice is brow lift; forehead lift is the older, more anatomically descriptive name still used in some settings and by patients searching online.
Endoscopic brow lift uses three to five short incisions and a small camera to lift the brow without a long scalp incision, resulting in less scarring, preserved scalp sensation, less swelling, and faster recovery. The traditional (coronal) technique uses a single long incision across the scalp and suits patients with severe brow ptosis or a very low hairline where the endoscopic approach cannot achieve sufficient correction. Neither technique is universally superior — the right choice depends on anatomy, degree of brow descent, and hairline position, assessed during consultation.
For the first 1–2 days, keeping the head elevated reduces swelling. Sutures are typically removed at the end of the first week. Most patients are comfortable returning to daily activities within 14–28 days, depending on the technique and individual healing. During recovery, bending forward, strenuous physical activity, saunas, swimming, alcohol, and smoking should be avoided until cleared at follow-up. A personalized post-operative protocol is provided at consultation.
Yes — brow lift and blepharoplasty are among the most frequently combined procedures in upper facial rejuvenation. When brow ptosis is the primary cause of upper eyelid heaviness, performing blepharoplasty alone risks removing too much eyelid skin and still leaving the brow in a low position. Addressing both in the same operative session corrects the problem at its anatomical source, avoids a second procedure, and reduces overall recovery time. Brow position and eyelid status are assessed together during consultation.
You may be a clinical candidate for brow lift if you have brows that sit at or below the orbital rim, upper eyelid heaviness primarily caused by brow descent rather than true skin excess, persistent asymmetry between the brows, deep horizontal forehead creases, or a chronically tired or stern appearance that is not addressed by injectable treatments. A clinical assessment determines whether brow ptosis or true eyelid ptosis is the primary driver — a distinction that is critical to recommending the correct procedure.
Botox (botulinum toxin) temporarily relaxes the muscles that cause dynamic forehead lines and frown lines — typically lasting 3–4 months. It does not address structural brow ptosis, does not lift a descended brow, and does not remove excess skin. Brow lift surgery permanently repositions the brow and corrects laxity of the forehead soft tissue — producing structural changes that injectable treatments cannot replicate. Some patients use Botox as a temporary measure before surgery, or to complement surgical results post-operatively.
A temporal brow lift — also called a lateral brow lift or mini brow lift — selectively elevates the outer (lateral) third of the eyebrow through a short incision within the temporal hair. It is a less extensive procedure than a full endoscopic or coronal brow lift and is best suited to patients whose brow descent is concentrated at the tail of the brow, producing lateral hooding over the outer eye. It is frequently combined with upper blepharoplasty. The temporal lift does not address central or medial brow descent or deep horizontal forehead creases.
Brow lift surgery produces durable structural improvement, but the face continues to age after the procedure. The longevity of results depends on individual anatomy, skin quality, the degree of initial correction, and the technique used. Most patients maintain a meaningfully improved brow position for many years. A personalized assessment during consultation will give you a realistic expectation of the outcome and its durability based on your specific anatomy and goals.
The cost of brow lift surgery in Dubai depends on the technique required (endoscopic, coronal, temporal, or hairline), the complexity of the anatomy, whether the procedure is combined with blepharoplasty or facelift, anaesthesia type, and facility standards. An in-person clinical assessment is required for a personalized cost estimate. Cost is discussed transparently during consultation.
Scar visibility depends entirely on the technique used. Endoscopic brow lift incisions — three to five cuts of approximately one centimetre — are positioned within the hair and are not visible once healed. The coronal technique leaves a scar running across the scalp, hidden within the hair, though it may be visible with very short hairstyles or significant hair loss. The hairline brow lift leaves a scar at the hairline junction that typically becomes inconspicuous with healing. Incision placement and scarring are discussed in detail during your consultation.
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Dubai, UAE
Specialist Plastic Surgeon · EBOPRAS Certified · Dubai UAE
Dr. Bouraoui Kotti is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (EBOPRAS-certified) with over 20 years of clinical experience, providing aesthetic and reconstructive surgery based on international standards.
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