In short: A brachioplasty (arm lift) removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm. It is generally considered after major weight loss, or where skin elasticity has reduced with age, when the loose skin does not respond to exercise. The scar runs from the armpit towards the elbow, placed so that it is not visible from the front, and is permanent.
- What it is
- Am I a candidate?
- Cost and Medicare
- What it can achieve
- Recovery
- Risks
- Before and after
- Questions
What is Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Surgery?
Brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper arms. It is often considered by patients who have experienced significant weight loss or decreased skin elasticity due to ageing, which can result in sagging skin in the upper arm area.
During the procedure, liposuction may be combined with incisions along the upper arm and armpit to remove tissue and tighten the surrounding skin. Brachioplasty in Sydney is performed on both men and women when exercise alone has not addressed sagging skin.
Dr Kumar performs Brachioplasty surgery in Sydney, Penrith, and Orange.
Am I a Good Candidate for Brachioplasty?
You may be a candidate for brachioplasty if you:
- Have excess, loose, or sagging skin on the upper arms due to weight loss or ageing
- Exercise regularly but have not been able to reduce excess upper arm skin
- Are at a stable, healthy weight with no significant health concerns
- Are considering other body contouring procedures after significant weight loss
Arm lift or liposuction?
The right operation depends on whether the problem is fat, loose skin, or both.
| Liposuction alone | Short-scar arm lift | Full arm lift | Extended arm lift | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removes loose skin | No | A small amount near the armpit | Yes, along the upper arm | Yes, arm and side of chest |
| Scar | Small entry points | In the armpit | Elbow to armpit, placed so that it is not visible from the front | As above, continuing through the armpit and down the side of the chest |
| Suits | Good skin tone with excess fat | Mild looseness close to the armpit | Loose skin along the upper arm | Loose skin after major weight loss |
If you have lost a large amount of weight, see arm lift after weight loss.
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Cost and Medicare in Sydney
Arm lift surgery is quoted individually. The cost depends on how much skin needs to be removed, whether liposuction is used alongside the excision, whether one or both arms are being treated, and how long the operation and anaesthetic take.
What makes up the cost
- Surgical fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Hospital fee — most brachioplasty patients stay one night
- Compression garments
- Follow-up appointments
Consultation fee
A consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a valid referral. You are given a written, itemised quote after your consultation, once it is clear which operation you need. Dr Kumar’s practice does not publish package prices — after major weight loss the amount of skin, and therefore the operation, varies considerably between patients.
Does Medicare cover an arm lift?
Not when it is done for cosmetic reasons. Medicare does fund arm skin removal after significant weight loss, where the excess skin is causing a functional problem, under item 30169.
Item 30169 covers removal of redundant non-abdominal skin and lipectomy for functional problems following significant weight loss, for one or two non-abdominal areas. Arms and thighs are both non-abdominal areas, so if you are having both, they may be claimable under the one item.
To qualify you need:
- a weight loss equivalent to at least five BMI units, and
- a stable weight for at least six months before surgery.
Medicare pays a benefit of 75% of the schedule fee for item 30169 when the service is provided in hospital. Note that item 30169 cannot be claimed alongside certain other procedures, which is one of the reasons the order in which operations are staged matters.
What about private health insurance?
Where item 30169 applies, your health fund may cover the hospital component. Cover, waiting periods and excess vary between funds and policies. Confirm yours directly with your fund, quoting the item number Dr Kumar’s team gives you.
Is it worth doing?
That is a decision only you can make, and it is worth being clear-eyed about it. Brachioplasty leaves a scar that usually runs from the armpit towards the elbow. 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. The trade is loose skin for a scar. For patients who have lost a great deal of weight and whose arm skin chafes, catches in clothing or limits what they are willing to wear, most find that trade worthwhile. For someone with mild laxity it often is not.
There is more on the costs and Medicare page, and the risks and considerations page sets out what to weigh before deciding. Individual results vary.
Potential Effects of Brachioplasty
- Removes excess or sagging skin from the upper arms
- Reduces the amount of loose tissue in the upper arm area
- May affect the contour of the arms and upper torso
- May affect the fit of clothing around the arms
Download our Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Surgery Guide
This complete guide to Arm Lift Surgery covers everything you need to know about this procedure, including:
- Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) surgery explained
- How to assess if you are a good candidate
- The surgical procedure
- Answers to our most frequently asked questions
- Before and After Gallery
Recovery from Brachioplasty Surgery
The recovery process varies depending on whether you undergo brachioplasty or extended brachioplasty, and whether any additional procedures are performed at the same time. Recovery timelines differ between individuals, and your surgeon will provide personalised guidance.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| In hospital | Usually one night at Westmead Private Hospital. Compression sleeves are fitted, and you will be encouraged to keep your arms raised on pillows to help swelling settle. |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Time off work. Tightness and swelling in the arms. You can use your hands for light tasks such as eating and grooming, but avoid lifting, pushing up from a chair with your arms or reaching overhead. Drains, where used, are removed by Dr Kumar’s nurses once the drainage has settled. First review with Dr Kumar and his nurses at about one week. |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Most patients return to work from about two weeks, then gradually resume most everyday activities over the next four weeks. How quickly depends on how physical the activity is and the area operated on. No heavy lifting or straining, and drive only once you can do so comfortably and safely. The Prineo and Micropore dressings come off at six weeks, and the compression garment is worn for six weeks. |
| Weeks 6 to 12 | After your six-week review, exercise and more physical work are built up progressively. Most patients are cleared for full activity at the 12-week review. |
| 3 to 12 months | Swelling settles and the scars mature. Reviews at 6 months and 12 months. |
- Patients are generally advised to wear a compression garment for several weeks to help reduce swelling and support healing.
- Patients may be able to return to work within about a week if their job does not involve heavy lifting or manual labour, though timelines vary.
- Dr Kumar will advise when it is safe to resume driving, which may be around one week after surgery.
Maintaining Your Brachioplasty Results
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help support the outcomes of your brachioplasty surgery. Results can be influenced by factors such as:
- Weight fluctuations
- Excessive physical activity during the early recovery phase
- Changes in skin health or Body Mass Index (BMI)
Outcomes vary between patients, and working closely with Dr Kumar can help guide your recovery and long-term care.
Complications and Risks
If you are considering brachioplasty, it is important to be informed of the potential risks, complications, and side effects associated with this surgery.
Even with careful medical care, complications may occur. It is important to read and understand the risk factors, which will be discussed in more detail during your consultation with Dr Kumar.
Potential risks include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Temporary numbness around the incision sites and inner arm
- Possible restriction of arm movement during recovery
- Rarely, skin may not heal fully and a skin graft may be required
- A blood transfusion may be necessary in some cases
- Seroma (excess fluid) may accumulate under the skin
- Keloid or hypertrophic scarring may develop
Before and after photographs
Photographs of Dr Kumar’s own arm lift patients are in the arm lift gallery. The outcomes shown are specific to those patients, and individual results will vary.
Common questions about arm lift surgery
How much does an arm lift cost in Australia?
Arm lift surgery is quoted individually, so there is no single price. What you pay depends on how much skin has to be removed, whether liposuction is used alongside the excision, and how long the operation and anaesthetic take. Brachioplasty is performed under general anaesthesia and most patients stay one night, which is part of the hospital cost.
Where the surgery is being done for a functional problem after significant weight loss, Medicare item 30169 may apply and reduce what you pay. You are given a written, itemised quote once the operation you need is clear.
Can I have my arms and thighs done at the same time?
Often, yes — and there is a practical reason to consider it. Under Medicare, arms and thighs both count as non-abdominal areas, and item 30169 covers one or two non-abdominal areas. So where both meet the criteria, they may fall under the one item rather than two separate claims.
Whether it is sensible to do them together is a separate question from whether it is claimable. It depends on the total operating time, your general health, and how much surgery is safe in one sitting. After major weight loss Dr Kumar generally stages operations rather than combining everything, and plans the order around what is troubling you most and what is safest to do first. That is something to work through at your consultation rather than decide in advance.
How risky is a brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty is a real operation and carries real risk, and you should weigh it properly rather than be reassured out of it.
The risks specific to this procedure include a wide or thickened scar, asymmetry between the two arms, altered sensation in the skin of the upper arm, fluid collection under the skin (seroma), bleeding, infection, and delayed wound healing along the incision. Damage to the nerves or lymphatics of the upper arm is uncommon but possible, and swelling of the forearm or hand can occur.
There are also the general risks of any operation under general anaesthesia, including blood clots. Smoking substantially increases the risk of wound healing problems in this operation in particular.
Liposuction alone will not correct loose arm skin — it reduces fat but leaves the skin, and in an arm that already has excess skin it can make matters worse. Where there is both fat and loose skin, liposuction may be used alongside the excision rather than instead of it.
Dr Kumar will go through the risks that apply to you at your consultation. The risks and considerations page sets out more detail. Individual results vary.
How long do brachioplasty scars take to settle?
- Scarring is an expected part of this procedure. Various surgical and post-operative techniques may be used to help reduce scarring.
- Scars can take 12 to 18 months to mature.
- The appearance of scars varies between patients. During your consultation, Dr Kumar can show examples of typical scar appearances after an arm lift procedure in Sydney.
What is an Extended Brachioplasty?
An Extended Brachioplasty is a more comprehensive procedure that targets excess or sagging skin on the upper arms and extends to the upper torso, including areas around the armpits and sides. This approach is often considered for patients who have experienced significant weight loss.
Can Brachioplasty be combined with other procedures?
Yes, Brachioplasty can be combined with other body contouring procedures, such as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or thigh lift, to treat multiple areas in a single surgical session. Dr Kumar will discuss the most appropriate options based on your individual circumstances and goals.
Where is the arm lift scar, and how long is it?
The scar usually runs from the armpit towards the elbow, placed so that it is not visible from the front. Like any scar, it can be seen from behind. It is uncommon for it to extend past the elbow. The length is determined by how much skin has to come out — a long scar is the trade for removing a large amount of loose skin, and after major weight loss that is usually what is required.
If the excess skin continues past the armpit and onto the chest wall, the incision may be extended to take that in as well. That operation is called an extended brachioplasty.
Dr Kumar closes the skin with dissolvable sutures and applies a dressing, so there are no stitches to remove. Most patients can shower within a few days, depending on how they are healing.
- Scarring is an expected part of this operation, not a complication of it
- Scars typically take 12 to 18 months to settle and fade
- How a scar matures varies considerably between patients, and is affected by genetics, skin type and smoking
When can I drive and go back to work?
Most people take about two weeks off work and drive once they can turn the wheel and brake comfortably. Most activities resume gradually over the following four weeks, and most patients are cleared for full activity, including upper body exercise, at 12 weeks.
