Arm lift · Brachioplasty
Arm lift: Compare practices from our network
An arm lift removes loose skin, and often some fat, from the upper arms to reshape them. It is a skin procedure, not a weight-loss treatment.
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Arm lift providers from Adoreal's partner network.
London · United Kingdom
iQonic Aesthetics
Brachioplasty under general anesthesia for loose upper-arm skin after weight loss or with age, with incisions along the underside of the arm.
London · United Kingdom
iQonic Aesthetics
Brachioplasty under general anesthesia for loose upper-arm skin after weight loss or with age, with incisions along the underside of the arm.
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How to choose an arm lift surgeon
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the surgeon who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
The scar is the trade-off, so ask exactly where it will sit.
A standard arm lift leaves a scar along the inner or back of the upper arm, from the armpit toward the elbow. A surgeon who agrees the scar position with you at consultation, rather than describing it vaguely, is being honest about what you are exchanging for the new contour.
Ask whether a shorter scar, or liposuction alone, would do.
Where laxity is limited and close to the armpit, a short-scar lift may be enough, and where skin is still elastic, liposuction alone may be. A surgeon who explains why the full lift is or is not needed is matching the operation to you.
Weight stability comes first.
Most surgeons want your weight stable before operating, because further loss can loosen the skin again. A practice that insists on this is protecting your result, not delaying it unnecessarily.
Ask whether the chest is part of the plan.
After major weight loss, loose skin can continue from the arm onto the side of the chest. A surgeon who examines that area too, and tells you whether an extended lift makes sense, is planning for the whole contour rather than one segment of it.
Get the recovery plan in writing.
Advice on compression, drains and lifting differs between practices, from a few weeks of compression to around two months. A practice that tells you exactly what to wear, for how long, and when you can lift again makes the weeks after surgery much easier to plan.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“Where exactly will my scar sit, and would a shorter scar or liposuction alone be enough for my arms?”
A surgeon who shows you the likely scar and explains why the full lift is or is not needed is planning around you, not around a technique.
Find a Arm Lift ProviderAbout the treatment
About arm lift
An arm lift, also called brachioplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm, between the armpit and the elbow, and tightens what remains for a firmer, smoother contour. Loose upper-arm skin can follow significant weight loss, but aging and heredity play a part too, and exercise cannot tighten it.
It is one of the procedures within excess skin removal. If loose skin is a concern in several areas after major weight loss, that page explains how surgeons plan and stage the whole sequence. This page goes into the arms specifically: how scar length relates to the amount of correction, and what recovery looks like.
Liposuction, short scar, standard or extended
- Liposuction alone, where the skin is still elastic and the concern is mainly fat.
- Short-scar (minimal-incision) arm lift, for limited laxity close to the armpit, with the scar kept in the armpit.
- Standard arm lift, with an incision along the inner or back of the upper arm, from the armpit toward the elbow.
- Extended arm lift, which also treats loose skin and fat around the arm and chest.
What does an arm lift involve?
An arm lift removes excess skin, and often some fat, from the upper arm and tightens what remains. It is one of the procedures within excess skin removal, focused on the arms alone.
It suits loose skin after significant weight loss, and skin that has loosened with age or heredity.
The techniques available
Your surgeon chooses the approach from the amount and position of loose skin:
Liposuction alone, where skin is still elastic.
Short-scar arm lift, with the scar in the armpit for limited laxity.
Standard arm lift, with an incision from the armpit toward the elbow.
Extended arm lift, also treating skin and fat around the arm and chest.
Are you a candidate?
Your surgeon will usually want you to be:
At a relatively stable weight, and not significantly overweight
Bothered by loose or hanging skin on the upper arms
A non-smoker, since smoking impairs wound healing
In good general health, without conditions that impair healing
Realistic about the scar, which runs along the inner or back of the arm
The treatment, step by step
01. Consultation and assessment. Your surgeon examines your arms, reviews your weight history and health, and agrees the scar position with you.
02. Preparation. Instructions on medication and smoking, and help at home arranged for the first days.
03. Anesthesia. Usually general anesthesia, most often as day surgery.
04. Liposuction. Used where needed to remove excess fat.
05. Skin removal and tightening. Excess skin is removed and the remaining tissue tightened.
06. Closing and support. Incision closed in layers, a drain placed when needed, and a compression garment fitted.
Recovery and aftercare
The arms feel tight and swollen at first, and lifting and reaching are limited while the incisions heal.
Wear the compression garment as directed, from a few weeks to around two months
Any drain is usually removed within about a week
Expect swelling that mostly settles over the first six weeks
Return to desk work typically after one to two weeks
Strenuous exercise and arm weight training usually at four to six weeks
The contour settles over three to twelve months, and the scar keeps fading after that.
Risks and side effects
Complications are possible, and the scar is the most visible trade-off:
Visible scarring, permanent, and sometimes wider before it fades.
Changes in sensation, numbness that can be temporary or lasting.
Wound healing problems, small open areas or slow healing.
Seroma, fluid collecting under the skin.
Bleeding, uncommon.
Infection, uncommon, and usually treated with antibiotics.
Asymmetry, which occasionally needs revision.
When to seek medical attention
- Swelling or pain in one leg, chest pain, or shortness of breath
- Fever, or spreading redness, warmth, or discharge from an incision
- An incision that opens or separates
- Severe pain not controlled by prescribed medication
Contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
Arm lift questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →How is an arm lift different from excess skin removal?
An arm lift is one of the procedures within excess skin removal. If you have loose skin in several areas after major weight loss, your surgeon may plan the arms as one stage of a wider sequence, which our excess skin removal page explains.
Where will the scar be?
Usually along the inner or back of the upper arm, running from the armpit toward the elbow. A short-scar lift keeps the scar in the armpit, and an extended lift continues it toward the chest. The scar is permanent, and its final appearance is judged after about six months or more.
Can exercise or liposuction do the same job?
Exercise can strengthen the muscle but cannot tighten stretched skin. Liposuction removes fat, so it can be enough where skin is still elastic. Where skin hangs, an arm lift, often combined with liposuction, is usually recommended.
What is a short-scar or extended arm lift?
A short-scar (minimal-incision) lift treats limited laxity close to the armpit, with the scar hidden there. An extended lift also treats skin and fat around the arm and chest. Your surgeon will say which suits the amount and position of your loose skin.
Do I need to reach my goal weight first?
Ideally you should be at a stable weight. Losing a lot of weight afterwards can loosen the skin again and change the result.
How much time off work will I need?
Typically about one to two weeks for desk work. Physical jobs need longer, so ask your surgeon how much arm use your work involves.
When can I exercise again?
Light activity usually resumes after about two weeks, and light cardio at around three. Strenuous exercise and arm weight training generally wait four to six weeks, until your surgeon clears you.
Will I need drains and a compression garment?
A drain is sometimes used and is usually removed within about a week. A compression garment is standard, and practices advise wearing it for anything from a few weeks to around two months.
Is an arm lift covered by insurance or public healthcare?
Usually not when it is done for appearance. Where excess skin causes documented problems, such as eczema, chafing or difficulty keeping clean, public or insurance funding is sometimes possible. Rules vary by country and region, so ask the practice directly.
How long do the results last?
The skin that is removed does not come back, and results are long lasting as long as your weight stays stable. Aging and weight change can still alter the arms over time.
Related treatments
More on arm lift.
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With large weight loss, skin can remain loose because it has been stretched for too long, causing a loss of elasticity. Surgery is often the most effective solution.
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You feel no pain during surgery. Afterward, discomfort is most intense in the first few days and gradually decreases, managed with prescribed painkillers.
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How to lose weight without excess skin
These strategies help maintain your skin's elasticity, reducing the chance of sagging skin as you lose weight.