Arm Lift
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes the loose skin that hangs from the upper arm after significant weight loss, which is a skin problem rather than a fat problem and so does not respond to liposuction alone.
What is anarm lift?
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes loose skin and excess fat from the upper arm and tightens the tissue underneath, reshaping the contour between the elbow and the armpit. It is the operation for arms where the skin itself has lost the ability to hold its shape, which follows aging, fluctuations in weight and genetics, and is common after significant weight loss.
The distinction worth being clear about is what skin can and cannot be made to do. Liposuction and non-surgical fat reduction can take fat out of the upper arm, and skin tightening treatments can improve mild laxity. Neither removes skin. Where the laxity is severe and the skin no longer springs back, an arm lift is the more appropriate option, because non-surgical tightening is suited to mild and moderate laxity. Removing that skin means cutting it out, and cutting it out leaves a scar.
That is the real trade in this operation. The incision runs along the inner or back surface of the arm. Dr. Balvant Arora, a board-certified plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon, places it where it is least visible in ordinary positions, and the scar fades significantly over time and becomes less noticeable, but it does not go away entirely. Choosing the contour over the scar is a reasonable decision, as long as you make it knowing that is the choice in front of you.
Who is arm lift for?
Arm Lift is surgery, so candidacy is decided in person.
Dr. Arora assesses your anatomy, your health, and what the operation can and cannot achieve in your case, including risks and recovery, before anything is scheduled.
Hanging upper arm skin
The skin on your upper arms is loose and does not respond to exercise.
Weight has settled
You have lost a significant amount of weight and your weight has been stable since.
Accepts the scar
You accept a scar along the arm that fades but does not go away entirely, in exchange for a better contour.
Skin, not fat alone
Your concern is loose skin rather than fat alone, since fat with firm skin suits liposuction instead.
Good general health
You are in good health and a non-smoker, or willing to stop before and after surgery.
Realistic about healing
You have realistic expectations about how the scar looks during the first months of healing.
Where an arm liftworks
An arm lift works on one region: the upper arm, between the elbow and the armpit. Loose skin and excess fat are removed there and the tissue underneath is tightened to support the new contour.
The incision runs along the inner or back surface of the arm, positioned to stay as inconspicuous as possible.
How the procedure is performed
Brachioplasty starts with a consultation at our Cincinnati practice, where Dr. Arora examines the arm and assesses how much of the fullness is loose skin and how much is fat. That distinction sets the operation. Skin excess calls for excision, while fat with good skin tone may be better treated with liposuction and no lift at all.
Surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The incision is made along the inner or back surface of the arm, positioned to keep it as inconspicuous as possible, and excess skin and fat are removed through it. The tissue underneath is tightened to support the new contour, and liposuction is sometimes used alongside the excision to refine the shape and improve symmetry between the two arms. The incision is then closed carefully, and dressings or a compression garment are applied to support healing.
Recovery and results
Following the post-operative instructions matters more here than in most procedures, because it is what protects both the healing incision and the final result.
Swelling, bruising and soreness in the arms are expected and temporary. You are given specific post-operative instructions covering activity, garment wear and incision care. Strenuous activity stays off the list until you are cleared for it.
As the initial swelling subsides, the new contour becomes visible, and the arm keeps refining as the tissue settles. The scar runs on a longer timeline of its own. It is firm and colored at first, then softens and lightens over months. It does not disappear, and a realistic view of how it looks at three weeks versus a year apart is worth having before surgery rather than after.
Once healed, the result is long-lasting as long as you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. Significant weight gain or loss afterward can change the contour again, and skin elasticity continues to decline gradually with age. This is why the operation makes the most sense once your weight has settled.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationThere is no set price, because the operation is sized to how much skin has to be removed and whether liposuction is used alongside the excision. Dr. Arora quotes it after examining your arms at consultation.
Surgical time is personalized to your procedure and is never rushed, and Dr. Arora will go over what to expect at your pre-operative visit. Surgery is done under general anesthesia, so you are asleep and comfortable throughout.
Swelling, bruising and soreness in the arms are expected and temporary, and strenuous activity stays off the list until you are cleared for it. Your specific timeline comes from Dr. Arora at your pre-operative and follow-up visits, because it depends on how much was done and how you are healing.
As the initial swelling subsides, the new contour becomes visible, and the arm keeps refining as the tissue settles. The scar runs on a longer timeline of its own, firm and colored at first, then softening and lightening over months.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the scar and how noticeable is it?
The incision runs along the inner or back surface of the upper arm, placed to stay as hidden as possible in normal positions. It is raised and colored while it heals, then softens and lightens over months. It fades significantly over time and becomes less noticeable, but it does not go away entirely, and it is the central trade-off of this operation.
Could liposuction alone do this instead?
Only if the problem is fat and your skin still has good elasticity. Liposuction removes fat but does not remove skin, so where the skin is already loose, taking fat out can leave it looking looser. Dr. Arora will tell you at consultation which of the two your arm actually needs, and in some cases the answer is both together.
What kind of anesthesia is used?
Arm lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you are asleep and comfortable throughout. Your medical history is reviewed with you at consultation before surgery is scheduled.
What is recovery like?
Expect swelling, bruising and discomfort in the arms afterward, managed with medication, dressings and a compression garment. Strenuous activity is restricted while the incision heals. Your specific timeline comes from Dr. Arora at your pre-operative and follow-up visits, because it depends on how much was done and how you are healing, and a date tied to your actual progress is more useful than a generic one.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Liposuction of the arms is sometimes part of the same operation, and some patients have the arms addressed alongside other body contouring so there is one anesthetic and one recovery. Whether that is appropriate depends on your health and the total length of the surgery.
How long do the results last?
Once healed, the result is long-lasting as long as you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. What changes it is significant weight fluctuation afterward, and to a lesser degree the natural loss of skin elasticity with age. Maintaining a stable weight is key to preserving the result.
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Surgical procedures reviewed by Dr. Balvant Arora, MD, MBA, board-certified plastic surgeon at The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a surgical consultation. Every operation carries risk, and candidacy is determined in person.