Arm lift (brachioplasty)
Surgery to remove loose, excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper arms to improve their shape, often after major weight loss.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- An arm lift removes loose skin (and sometimes fat) to reshape the upper arm, usually after major weight loss — it is not a weight-loss operation.
- It leaves a scar on the inner upper arm, often from the armpit toward the elbow, which can be long and visible and does not disappear.
- Body-contouring surgery carries a high complication rate; up to about half of patients have some complication, though many are minor.
- Best results come with stable weight, not smoking, and realistic scar expectations; choose a surgeon on the GMC specialist register, in a clinic registered with your nation's healthcare regulator (CQC in England; Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales or RQIA elsewhere in the UK).
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Removes loose, excess skin to give a firmer, slimmer upper arm
Your weight is not yet stable, or you are still actively losing or planning to lose weight.
Expect soreness, swelling and bruising, with limited arm use. You wear compression garments and may have drains for the first days. Wound checks are...
A named contact and clear route to urgent help.
Expect soreness, swelling and bruising, with limited arm use. You wear compression garments and may have drains...
Bruising fades and you gradually increase gentle arm use. Time off work is often two to six weeks, depending on...
Most people return to normal activity and exercise as advised, avoiding heavy lifting until cleared. Scars are...
Swelling settles, the arm shape refines, and scars gradually fade and flatten, though they remain permanent and...
What is an arm lift (brachioplasty)?
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes loose, excess skin — and sometimes fat — from the upper arm, between the armpit and the elbow, to improve its shape. It is most often done after major weight loss, when the skin has been stretched and hangs loosely (sometimes called 'bingo wings').
The operation leaves a scar on the inner side of the upper arm, often running from the armpit toward the elbow, and sometimes extending onto the side of the chest. The trade-off is a firmer, slimmer arm in exchange for this scar, which can be long and visible. Liposuction is sometimes combined to remove fat as well as skin. An arm lift improves loose skin; it is not a weight-loss procedure.
A major consideration with this operation is the scar, which is on a visible part of the body and can sometimes heal wide or raised. Realistic expectations about the scar are essential.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Standard brachioplasty (inner-arm scar)
Removes excess skin from the upper arm through a scar on the inner side, usually running from the armpit toward the elbow. Suited to significant loose skin.
Limited (mini) brachioplasty
For looseness mainly near the armpit, a shorter scar may be possible, sometimes kept within or near the armpit. Gives a more limited improvement.
Arm lift with liposuction
Liposuction is combined to remove fat as well as skin, helping refine the shape where there is both excess fat and loose skin.
Extended brachioplasty
Where looseness extends onto the side of the chest, the scar extends there too. A larger operation with a longer scar, often after major weight loss.
Preparing for your surgery
- See the operating surgeon (a GMC-registered plastic surgeon), who should assess your arms, explain the scar position and length, and obtain your consent — not a salesperson.
- Expect a two-stage consent process with a cooling-off period of at least two weeks.
- Be at a stable weight for several months to a year before surgery, as advised.
- Stop smoking and vaping well beforehand, as nicotine increases wound and healing problems.
- Optimise your general health and nutrition; blood tests or supplements are sometimes needed after major weight loss.
- Arrange time off work and help at home, as you will need to limit arm use at first.
- Discuss realistic expectations, especially about the visible inner-arm scar.
What happens
Under general anaesthetic, the surgeon removes the marked excess skin and fat from the upper arm and closes the wound, leaving a scar on the inner side of the arm, often from the armpit toward the elbow, and sometimes onto the chest. Liposuction may be used to refine the shape. Drains are sometimes placed to reduce fluid build-up.
The operation usually takes one to two hours, and you may go home the same day or stay one to two nights. You wear compression garments afterwards and are advised on how to limit arm movement while the wounds heal, while still moving gently to reduce the risk of clots.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Your weight is not yet stable, or you are still actively losing or planning to lose weight.
- You smoke or vape and are unwilling to stop, given the risk to wound healing.
- You cannot accept a long, potentially visible scar on the inner arm.
- Your main concern is fat with good skin quality, where liposuction alone may suffice.
- You have a high BMI that significantly raises complication risk, as advised by your surgeon.
Delay surgery if…
- You have not maintained a stable weight for several months to a year.
- You have an active skin infection or rash in the arm or armpit.
- Your nutritional state is not optimised after major weight loss.
- You feel rushed and have not had a genuine cooling-off period of at least two weeks.
- You cannot arrange the time off and help needed for recovery.
Alternatives to discuss
- No surgery — using supportive garments and accepting the loose skin.
- Weight stabilisation and strength training first.
- Liposuction alone if the main issue is fat and the skin quality is good.
- A limited (mini) brachioplasty with a shorter scar if looseness is minor.
- Staging as part of a wider body-contouring plan.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Removes loose, excess skin to give a firmer, slimmer upper arm
- Can reduce skin rubbing and rashes in the arm fold
- Can make sleeves and clothing fit more comfortably
- Often improves comfort and confidence after major weight loss
- Can be combined with liposuction to refine the contour
Risks & complications
- A long, permanent scar on the inner arm, red and raised at first and fading slowly
- Swelling, bruising and soreness for several weeks
- Numbness or altered sensation around the wound and forearm
- Some asymmetry between the two arms
- Tightness limiting arm movement at first
- Wider, raised, lumpy or stretched scars, which are common on the arm
- Fluid collection (seroma) needing drainage
- Infection needing antibiotics
- Wound breakdown (the wound opening)
- Needing further surgery to revise the scar or shape
- Damage to a nerve causing lasting numbness or weakness in the arm or hand
- Lymph-fluid problems or persistent arm swelling (lymphoedema)
- Areas of skin loss needing dressings or further surgery
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs (DVT/PE)
The biggest practical issue with an arm lift is the scar, which is on a visible part of the body and can heal wide, raised or lumpy. Body-contouring surgery also carries a high overall complication rate, with up to around half of patients having some complication, though many are minor. Smoking and a higher BMI increase the risks. Ask your surgeon about your personal risk, the exact scar position and length, and how scars in this area tend to settle.
Published figures to discuss
Complication rates vary with the extent of surgery, BMI, smoking and the amount of weight lost. Scar problems are particularly common on the arm. Robust single percentages are hard to quote, but body-contouring surgery as a whole carries a high complication rate, with many complications being minor.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any complication after body-contouring surgery | Up to around 50% of patients (many minor) | Per BAPRAS patient guidance; includes minor wound issues that settle without further surgery. | BAPRAS/RCS — Body contouring after weight loss (incl. brachioplasty) (PDF)bapras.org.ukPublished figure |
| Long visible scar | Expected | An arm lift trades loose skin for a scar from armpit toward elbow; scar quality varies and may widen. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Wound breakdown, seroma or delayed healing | Common to uncommon, higher after major weight loss, smoking or high BMI | Small wound separations often heal with dressings but can delay return to activity. | Brachioplasty technique and scarring — PMCncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
| Altered sensation or swelling | Common early, sometimes persistent | Numbness around the inner arm scar is expected; persistent hand swelling is unusual and should be reviewed. | Brachioplasty technique and scarring — PMCncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
Recovery from an arm lift takes a few weeks, with limits on arm use at first to protect the wounds. Swelling and scar maturation take much longer, often a year or more for the final appearance.
- Swelling, bruising and tightness in the upper arms
- Numb patches around the wound and sometimes the forearm that often improve over months
- Limited arm movement at first that gradually eases
- Red, raised scars that fade over a year or more
- Tiredness in the first weeks
Aftercare
- Wear compression garments as instructed.
- Limit heavy use and lifting with the arms until cleared, while moving gently to reduce clot risk.
- Keep wounds clean and dry and attend wound-check appointments.
- Follow scar-care advice once wounds have healed.
- Avoid smoking and strenuous activity until cleared.
- Take pain relief as advised and keep well hydrated.
- Know who to contact and seek urgent help for signs of infection, wound breakdown, or breathing problems.
- Compression garments/sleeves ready and fitted
- Time off work booked (about 2–6 weeks)
- Help at home for tasks needing both arms
- Loose tops that are easy to put on
- Pain relief and any prescribed medicines collected
- Items moved to easy-to-reach places at home
- Clinic's emergency contact number saved
Scars and how they heal
An arm lift leaves a permanent scar on the inner side of the upper arm, usually running from the armpit toward the elbow, and sometimes onto the chest. Because of the position and tension, arm scars can heal wide, raised or lumpy more often than scars in some other areas. They are red at first and fade and flatten over a year or more but do not disappear and can remain visible in sleeveless clothing. Sun protection and scar care can help them settle.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Spreading redness, increasing pain, heat or smelly discharge (signs of infection)
- A wound opening up or significant fluid leaking
- A rapidly swelling, tense or very painful arm (possible bleeding)
- New weakness, severe numbness or tingling in the arm or hand
- A swollen, hot or painful calf, or breathlessness or chest pain — call 999
- Worsening arm swelling that does not settle
- Fever or feeling generally very unwell
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
An arm lift can remove loose skin and give a firmer, slimmer upper arm, often easing rubbing after weight loss. The final shape develops over several months as swelling settles, and scars fade over a year or more but remain permanent and can stay visible. It improves skin looseness and contour rather than removing large amounts of fat, and the main trade-off is the scar.
Results vary and cannot be guaranteed. Some asymmetry is normal. A good surgeon sets realistic expectations and is honest about the scar, which is the most common reason people are unhappy after this operation.
Results last well if your weight stays stable, but significant weight change can alter the shape, and skin continues to age and relax over time. Keeping a stable weight and good general health helps maintain the result. Some people choose scar revision later if scars heal poorly.
Combining with other procedures
An arm lift is often part of a wider body-contouring plan after major weight loss and may be combined or staged with a tummy tuck, thigh lift or breast surgery. Combining several large operations at once increases anaesthetic, clotting and wound risks, so surgeons often stage them. Your surgeon should advise which combination is safe and sensible for you.
Follow-up & long-term care
You will be reviewed in the early weeks for wound checks, with later review as swelling settles and scars mature. Because scar quality is a common concern, scar progress is usually monitored. You should have a named contact and clear advice on warning signs, including arm swelling or new weakness.
- Keep your weight stable to maintain the result.
- Follow scar-care advice and protect scars from the sun while they mature.
- Continue any nutrition or health advice given after weight loss.
- Report any persistent arm swelling, weakness or wound problems.
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- Arm scars commonly widen, raise or thicken and may need revision.
- Small skin excesses ('dog ears') at the ends of the scar may need a minor procedure.
- Asymmetry or residual looseness may prompt further surgery.
- Scar revision does not guarantee a thin scar, as the arm is prone to scarring.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- A named contact and clear route to urgent help.
- Early and regular wound checks, with monitoring of scar progress.
- Compression-garment advice and a clear activity timeline.
- Honest scar-care advice and realistic expectations about scar quality.
- A clear policy on who reviews and funds any revision.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The surgeon's fee and experience in body-contouring surgery
- Anaesthetic and theatre/facility fees
- Whether liposuction is combined with the skin removal
- The extent of the lift and length of the scar
- Whether any hospital stay is needed and use of drains
- Compression garments and follow-up appointments
- The clinic's policy and fees if revision surgery is needed
- The operating surgeon's fee and GMC registration
- Anaesthetist and facility/theatre fees
- Whether liposuction is included
- Compression garments and number of follow-up visits included
- The cooling-off period and cancellation/refund policy
- What happens, and who pays, if a complication or revision is needed
- 24-hour emergency contact and arrangements for urgent care
On the NHS? An arm lift is not routinely funded by the NHS for cosmetic reasons; after major weight loss it may occasionally be considered under strict local criteria, otherwise it is a private procedure.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- The length and visibility of the scar being downplayed.
- Consent taken by a salesperson rather than the operating surgeon.
- Not explaining that arm scars often heal less neatly than scars elsewhere.
- Operating before weight is stable or without optimising health.
- Pressure from time-limited offers with no genuine cooling-off period.
Marketing red flags
- Claims of 'scarless' or 'hidden-scar' arm lifts for significant loose skin.
- Promising dramatic slimming, as if it were a weight-loss procedure.
- Before-and-after photos that hide the scar with poses or angles.
- Discount packages that pressure you to book quickly.
- Downplaying the recovery time and arm-use restrictions.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- Exactly where will the scar be and how long will it be?
- How do scars on the arm tend to heal, and what is my personal risk of a poor scar?
- Would I benefit from liposuction at the same time?
- How long should I wait after weight loss, and is my weight stable enough?
- Could this affect feeling or strength in my arm, or cause arm swelling?
- Should this be combined with, or staged from, other body-contouring surgery?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an arm lift on the NHS?
How visible will the scar be?
Is an arm lift a way to lose weight?
Would liposuction alone be enough?
How long until I can use my arms normally?
Could it affect feeling or strength in my arm?
Is there national UK guidance, and how do I check the clinic and surgeon are properly registered?
Find a verified surgeon for arm lift (brachioplasty)
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: BAPRAS/RCS — Body contouring after weight loss (incl. brachioplasty) (PDF) RCS England — Professional Standards for Cosmetic Surgery GMC — guidance for cosmetic interventions Brachioplasty technique and scarring — PMC ASA/CAP — marketing of cosmetic interventions CQC — healthcare regulator (England) Healthcare Improvement Scotland — independent healthcare regulator (Scotland) Healthcare Inspectorate Wales — healthcare regulator (Wales) RQIA — healthcare regulator (Northern Ireland)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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