Short answer
An arm lift (brachioplasty) is an operation that removes loose, sagging skin, and sometimes fat, from the upper arm to make it look firmer. It is usually considered for people at a stable weight whose loose skin has not improved with exercise or weight loss, often after major weight loss. The trade-off is a long scar, typically along the inner or back of the upper arm, that fades but never disappears. Whether it is reasonable depends mainly on how much loose skin there is, as opposed to fat, and on general health.
Key points
- Brachioplasty tightens and removes excess upper-arm skin; liposuction may be added for fat.
- Exercise improves muscle tone but cannot tighten loose skin.
- The scar usually runs the length of the upper arm and is permanent.
- Many people return to desk-based work in about one to two weeks; heavy lifting waits longer.
- Thickened (hypertrophic) scarring is the most frequently reported complication in published studies.
What an arm lift involves
Brachioplasty tightens sagging skin and the supporting tissue underneath on the upper arm, and surgeons may also remove pockets of fat.1 The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) describes it as removing excess skin and, when appropriate, fat to create a firmer, more proportionate contour.3
The cut is made on the inside or back of the arm, and its length depends on how much skin needs to be removed.1 A formal arm lift is typically done under general anaesthesia and may take around two to three hours, depending on whether one or both arms are treated and whether liposuction or other areas are included.3 An arm lift on its own is often a day-case operation, although an overnight stay may be advised after more extensive or combined surgery.3
Loose skin or fat: why the cause matters
Upper arms can look heavy for two different reasons: excess fat, or skin that has stretched and lost its elasticity. The two call for different approaches. Exercise can improve muscle tone, but it cannot tighten loose skin.1
Liposuction can remove fat from the upper arms, but it relies on the skin shrinking back afterwards. Where skin is thin and not elastic, the treated area may look loose after fat is removed.5 An arm lift, by contrast, removes the skin itself but does not by itself deal with stubborn fat, which is why the two are sometimes combined.1
| Feature | Arm lift (brachioplasty) | Arm liposuction |
|---|---|---|
| Main target | Loose, sagging skin, with some fat if needed3 | Fat that does not respond to diet and exercise5 |
| Depends on skin elasticity? | No; the excess skin is cut away1 | Yes; inelastic skin may look loose afterwards5 |
| Scar | Long scar along the upper arm1 | Small cuts for the cannula (thin suction tube) |
| Often combined? | Liposuction may be added for a more sculpted shape1 | Can be performed alone |
Who may be considered
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) describes typical candidates as adults with significant upper-arm skin laxity (looseness) whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight, in good health, non-smokers, and with realistic expectations.4 Cleveland Clinic adds acceptance of the scar and the absence of conditions such as anaemia that raise surgical risk.1
Weight stability matters because an arm lift does not stop sagging returning if weight later goes up or down substantially.1 ASPS notes that arm lifts are especially relevant after significant weight loss, and timing is usually discussed once weight has settled.4 Our page on loose skin after major weight loss covers the wider picture.
Recovery and scars
After surgery the arms are dressed and usually wrapped in an elastic bandage or compression garment to limit swelling, and a thin drain may be placed under the skin for a short time to remove fluid.4 Compression is often worn for several weeks, and swelling and bruising may settle over a few weeks.1
ISAPS says many people can return to desk-based or light work in about one to two weeks, with longer for manual jobs; heavy lifting and strenuous upper-body exercise are generally restricted for several weeks, and driving should wait until you are off strong painkillers and can move your arms without significant pain.3
The scar typically runs the length of the upper arm and may fade somewhat but never fully disappears.1 Scar maturation may continue for 12 months or longer.3 Its position is something worth seeing in diagrams or photographs before deciding, because it is the main visible cost of the operation.
Risks and what the evidence shows
Recognised risks listed by ASPS include bleeding, infection, fluid collection under the skin (seroma), poor wound healing, damage to deeper nerves, blood vessels or muscles, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, fat necrosis (death of fatty tissue under the skin), pain that may persist, stitches surfacing through the skin, unsightly scarring and the possible need for revision surgery.2 ISAPS also lists blood clots and lymphoedema (swelling from fluid that the lymphatic system cannot drain).3
A 2017 literature review pooled 27 studies covering 1,065 patients and found complications in 28.9%. Hypertrophic (raised, thickened) scarring was the most common at about 11%, followed by seroma or lymphatic problems at about 7%, delayed healing or wound separation at about 6%, infection at about 3% and nerve damage at 1.5%; revision rates varied from 0% to 21% between studies.7
Those figures should be read with care. Most of the studies were small, many had less than a year of follow-up, and techniques varied too much for a formal meta-analysis, so the evidence on exact complication rates is Limited.7 What is consistent is that scarring and nerve injury are the points patients are most often advised about.
When to seek medical advice
Having surgery raises the chance of deep vein thrombosis (DVT, a blood clot in a deep vein). Signs include throbbing pain and swelling in one leg or, less often, an arm, with red or darkened skin. Call 999 or go to A&E if these come with shortness of breath or chest pain, as a clot may have reached the lungs.6
Common questions
How long do arm lift results last?
Results are generally long-lasting if weight stays stable, although some looseness can return with ageing or weight changes.31
Can exercise get rid of bingo wings instead?
Exercise can firm the muscle underneath but cannot tighten skin that has stretched.1 If the main issue is fat with good skin elasticity, weight management or liposuction may be discussed instead.5
Will I have numbness afterwards?
Possibly; numbness or altered skin sensation is a recognised effect, and lasting nerve injury was reported in about 1.5% of patients in the 2017 review.27
Does smoking matter?
Yes; candidates are expected to be non-smokers or able to stop nicotine as directed before surgery.34 See why to stop smoking before surgery.
Bottom line
An arm lift removes loose upper-arm skin that exercise and weight loss cannot fix, at the price of a long permanent scar and a meaningful rate of minor wound and scar problems. It makes most sense once weight is stable, and only after the balance of skin and fat has been assessed in person.
Related reading
- Plastic surgery overview
- What are the options for loose skin after major weight loss?
- What is a seroma after surgery?
- Why do you wear compression garments after surgery?
- Why should you stop smoking before surgery?
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Brachioplasty (arm lift). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23367-brachioplasty-arm-lift. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Arm lift: risks and safety. ASPS. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift/safety. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Arm lift. ISAPS. https://www.isaps.org/discover/patients-home/procedures/body-procedures/arm-lift. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Arm lift candidates and recovery. ASPS. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift/candidates and https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift/recovery. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Liposuction. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liposuction/about/pac-20384586. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- NHS. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- Sisti A, Cuomo R, Milonia L, et al. Complications associated with brachioplasty: a literature review. Acta Biomedica; 2017;88(4):393-402. doi:10.23750/abm.v88i4.5609. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6166161/
Article history
- — First published.