Brachioplasty (arm lift)

Brachioplasty, commonly called an arm lift, removes excess skin from the upper arm. It is the procedure used where the concern is loose, hanging skin rather than fat.

Me Clinic's plastic surgeons perform brachioplasty at accredited private hospitals around Melbourne.

Brachioplasty or liposuction?

This is the most important distinction to understand before considering either procedure.

• Arm liposuction removes fat. It works through very small incisions and leaves minimal scarring. It does not remove skin, and it will not correct significant skin laxity.
• Brachioplasty removes skin. It requires a longer incision, typically running along the inner arm from the armpit toward the elbow, and leaves a correspondingly longer scar.

Where both fat and loose skin are present, the two procedures are often combined. Your surgeon assesses the balance at consultation and advises which applies. Choosing liposuction alone where skin laxity is the real issue is a common source of disappointment, which is why this assessment comes first.

Who it suits

Brachioplasty is most commonly considered by people who have:

• Lost a significant amount of weight, leaving loose skin on the upper arms that does not retract.
• Age-related loss of skin elasticity in the upper arm.
• Upper arm skin laxity that has not responded to exercise, because skin cannot be toned in the way muscle can.

A good candidate is in good general health, at a stable weight, and has realistic expectations - specifically, an understanding that the procedure trades loose skin for a visible scar.

Smokers have an increased risk of complications, and stopping well before and after surgery assists healing.

Scarring - the central trade-off

Brachioplasty leaves a longer scar than liposuction. The incision is generally placed along the inner aspect of the upper arm, where it is less visible when the arms are down, but it is a substantial scar and it is permanent.

Wherever an incision is made there will be a scar. A well-placed incision sutured in fine detail typically fades over time, but how a scar heals varies considerably between individuals and depends on skin type and genetic makeup. Some people develop hypertrophic or thickened scars.

Scarring can be reduced by not smoking, eating well, maintaining a stable weight, avoiding sun exposure to the surgical area, keeping incision sites clean and dry, limiting physical strain, and using silicone sheets or gels for scar management as directed.

You should be comfortable with this trade-off before proceeding. It is the main reason a surgeon may recommend liposuction alone where skin laxity is mild.

What the procedure involves

Brachioplasty is performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital. Excess skin, and often some underlying fat, is removed through the incision, and the remaining skin is redraped and closed with sutures. Where liposuction is combined, fat is removed first.

Depending on the extent of the procedure you may go home the same day or stay overnight. Your surgeon will discuss this at consultation.

Recovery

• You cannot drive yourself home. You need someone to drive you and stay with you for at least 24 hours.
• Compression garments are worn to reduce swelling and support the arm as it heals.
• Expect swelling and bruising, settling over the following weeks.
• Arm movement is restricted early on to protect the incision. Your surgeon will advise on what is permitted and when.
• Avoid exercise for the first two weeks; heavy lifting is avoided for around six weeks.
• Most people return to work after two to three weeks, depending on the physical demands of the job.
• Domestic flights are usually fine at around two weeks; wait six to eight weeks for international flights and before swimming.

Recovery from brachioplasty is longer than from arm liposuction, reflecting the more extensive nature of the surgery. Most patients are seen at seven to ten days, then at six to eight weeks, three months, six months and twelve months. Scars take several months to mature.

Costs

Brachioplasty is quoted individually after assessment, as the cost depends on the extent of skin removal required, whether liposuction is combined, and the hospital used.

For reference, arm liposuction alone falls within the per-area surgeon's fee range of $4,000 to $8,000. Hospital, theatre and anaesthetist fees are additional; anaesthetist fees range from $800 to $1,200 per hour. As at September 2024 and including GST, a consultation with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon is $350.

Payment for major surgery is due four weeks before the procedure. See Me Clinic pricing.

Medicare

Excess skin removal surgery after massive weight loss - including arm lift - can qualify for a Medicare rebate where it meets the strict MBS criteria and you hold a valid GP referral. Purely cosmetic arm lift is not covered.

Your surgeon assesses whether your circumstances meet the criteria. Confirm current item numbers on MBS Online. Me Clinic is not a no-gap provider, so a significant out-of-pocket payment remains even where cover applies.

Risks and complications

All surgical procedures carry risks and potential complications, including infection, bleeding and haematoma, seroma, bruising, swelling, pain, delayed healing, changes in sensation from nerve damage, asymmetry between the arms, unfavourable or hypertrophic scarring, anaesthesia complications, and blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism).

Risks are discussed with you in detail during the consultation process, and you are given written information to take home. Please read our information on the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery before proceeding.

Outcomes vary depending on individual anatomy, skin quality and how your body heals. Individual results may vary.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Referral and cooling-off period

Since 1 July 2023, all patients are required to have a GP referral before seeing a plastic surgeon or doctor about cosmetic surgery. A valid referral is also needed if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate on medically essential surgery.

For any cosmetic surgery there is a compulsory one-week cooling-off period after your second consultation before surgery can be booked.

Related pages

See arm liposuction, liposuction, or all body procedures.