Arm lift scars run from the armpit towards the elbow. There is no version of this operation that avoids a scar.
That is the trade. An arm lift (brachioplasty) removes skin, and removing skin from a cylinder means a scar along its length. Patients who understand this in advance are generally satisfied; patients who expect the scar to disappear are not.
Where the scar sits
| Pattern | Where the scar runs | Used when |
|---|---|---|
| Short scar | Confined to the armpit | Minor looseness at the top of the arm only |
| Standard brachioplasty | Armpit to elbow, placed so that it is not visible from the front | Looseness along the whole upper arm — most patients after weight loss |
| Extended brachioplasty | Continues from the arm across the armpit onto the side of the chest | Looseness extending past the armpit onto the chest wall |
Dr Kumar performs extended brachioplasty where the looseness continues onto the chest wall, which is common after major weight loss. Dr Kumar places the scar using a technique he has developed, so that it is not visible from the front and stays hidden in most of the arm positions used in everyday life. Like any scar, it can be seen from behind, and in Dr Kumar’s experience it tends to become finer and less noticeable over time. Individual results vary.
What happens over twelve months
| When | What the scar looks like |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–6 | Covered by dressings; the arm is swollen and bruised |
| Week 6 | Dressings off; pink, flat to slightly raised |
| Month 3 | Reddest and firmest. The low point, and it is normal |
| Month 6 | Colour fading, softening |
| Month 12 | Pale and flat in most patients; final review |
Arm scars have a reputation for behaving less well than abdominal ones. There is something to that: the upper arm is under tension with every movement, the skin is thin, and after weight loss it is often poor quality. Dr Kumar reviews his surgical patients for twelve months and manages scars at every visit.
The scar care protocol
Prineo and Micropore go on at surgery and stay for six weeks. A compression garment is worn for the same six weeks. After that, Dr Kumar’s nurses take you through silicone and massage and review the scars at each visit through to twelve months. Drains are used in body contouring surgery.
What makes an arm scar worse
- Going back to exercise early. Tension across a healing scar widens it — and the upper arm is under tension constantly. Two weeks off work, gradual return over the next four, full clearance at around twelve weeks.
- Nicotine. Complete abstinence from all nicotine, not just smoking, for eight weeks before and after body contouring after weight loss.
- Sun. Keep it covered for the first year — arms get far more sun than abdomens.
- Skin type. A personal or family history of keloid is worth raising before surgery; the upper arm is a site where thickened scars are more common.
- Wound problems. Separation near the elbow, where tension is highest, is the usual trouble spot.
Is it worth it?
That is genuinely your call, and it is worth thinking through carefully. Patients who want to wear short sleeves without the arm swinging generally accept a visible line for it. Patients whose main concern is how the arm looks uncovered from every angle should think carefully, because the scar is on show in exactly those situations.
Where the problem is fat rather than skin, liposuction alone leaves no such scar — see arm liposuction or arm lift.
Common questions
Can the scar be hidden in the armpit? Only where looseness is confined to the top of the arm. That is uncommon after major weight loss.
Can it be revised? A widened scar can sometimes be revised after twelve months. Scar revision.
Does Medicare contribute? Item 30169 covers removal of redundant non-abdominal skin for functional problems after significant weight loss — (MBS at 1 July 2026). Whether you meet it is assessed at consultation.
Will it show in photographs? It is not visible from the front and stays hidden in most everyday arm positions. Like any scar, it can be seen from behind.
Next step
Ask to see exactly where the line will fall — it is marked on you at consultation. Bring a GP referral; it is required to see Dr Kumar. He consults at Westmead, Penrith and Orange. Call 1300 267 726. More about arm lift surgery and arm lift after weight loss.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
