Arm Lift Surgery (Brachioplasty) in Melbourne
Restoring what your body couldn’t recover on its own.
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is surgery to remove loose, excess skin from the upper arms and reshape what remains, so the arm sits in better proportion with the rest of your body.
Many of the people who come to see me about their arms have already achieved something remarkable. They have lost a great deal of weight, through bariatric surgery, through years of steady effort, or with the help of the newer weight-loss medications. Others have watched the skin of the upper arm gradually lose its spring with age, despite staying strong and active. Either way, the skin has been asked to stretch further than it can return from, and no amount of exercise will draw it back.
What they describe to me is rarely about appearance alone. It is arms that feel heavy by the end of the day. Skin that rubs and becomes sore in the folds, especially in summer. Sleeves that won’t fit. And the quiet decision, made years ago, to stop wearing anything sleeveless. I understand how much of daily life that touches.
Download Dr Carmen’s Guide to
Arm Lift Surgery
More than the arm
An arm lift is far more than trimming away spare skin, and it is rarely about the arm alone. The upper arm flows into the armpit, the side of the chest, the back and the bra line. When skin has been stretched by weight, the looseness often travels across that whole region.
So I look at the upper body as one connected landscape. Refining the armpit and the side of the chest, where it is needed, is often what makes the result look natural and balanced, rather than a firmer arm sitting beside loose tissue.
Beneath the skin, there is more to consider. The connective tissue has lost its elasticity, and fat sits in different layers and patterns. I treat each tissue in its own way. The fat is shaped, often with liposuction. The deeper tissue is repositioned and secured. The skin is trimmed, rejoined and reshaped so it rests where it belongs.
Understanding what you’re living with
Before we talk about surgery, I want to understand what this feels like for you. I often begin by asking whether it’s the heaviness that troubles you most, or the shape. Some people are most affected by the weight and discomfort. Others simply long to wear a short sleeve again without thinking about it.
Then we talk about the scar, because it matters. An arm lift exchanges loose skin for a scar along the arm. If a sleeveless top feels out of reach now, how would you feel wearing one with a fine scar along the inner arm? For many people the answer is a clear yes. For some, it isn’t, and that is just as important to know. My role is to help you make a decision that feels right for you, with everything in view.
Is an arm lift right for me?
An arm lift may suit you if:
- loose skin on your upper arms hasn’t improved with exercise
- the excess skin causes heaviness, discomfort, rashes or irritation in the skin folds
- your weight has been stable for some time
- you are in good general health, and you don’t smoke or are willing to stop
- you are comfortable with the trade-off of a permanent scar
These are significant operations, and I want you to come to them at your best: settled in your weight, settled in your life, and with good support around you. I like to look at the whole picture. What will help this go well for you, and what might get in the way? Together, we strengthen the first and reduce the second.
Surgery works best in a body that is cared for. It doesn’t replace healthy living, and if something can still be improved through nutrition and exercise, that comes first. What surgery can do is help restore what your body couldn’t recover on its own, and allow the shape of your arms to reflect the work you have already done.
Arm lift after weight loss, including with weight-loss medication
More and more people are losing a large amount of weight in a shorter time, including with the newer weight-loss medications prescribed by their doctor. When weight comes off quickly, the skin often cannot keep pace.
You are very welcome to come and see me early, while you are still losing weight. It gives us time to plan together. The surgery itself waits until your weight has been stable, usually for around six months, so that your result isn’t changed by further loss. After major weight loss, an arm lift is often one part of a wider plan. You can read more about body contouring after weight loss and solutions for loose arm skin after weight loss.
Arm lift, liposuction, or a mini arm lift?
Liposuction alone can help when the concern is mainly fat and the skin still has good elasticity. Once skin is loose and hanging, liposuction cannot tighten it, and can leave it looking looser. That is where an arm lift is needed. Often I use both together: liposuction to refine the shape, and the lift to remove the excess skin. You can read more in arm lipo vs arm lift and on my liposuction page.
A mini arm lift, or short-scar arm lift, places the scar within the armpit. I rarely recommend it. It suits only a small number of people, whose looseness is mild and sits close to the armpit. For most people, and almost everyone after significant weight loss, a meaningful result needs a longer scar along the arm.
My approach to arm lift surgery
Every arm lift is planned around the person in front of me. The plan depends on how much loose skin there is and how it behaves, where the fat sits, how far the looseness extends into the armpit and chest, and whether other procedures are being done at the same time.
Throughout the operation I take great care to protect the nerves and lymphatic channels of the arm. This helps reduce the risk of long-term swelling and changes in sensation.
After major weight loss, body contouring is often done in stages. It is common to treat the upper body in one operation, an arm lift, often together with a breast lift or breast reduction, and the lower body, such as a tummy tuck or thigh lift, in another.
Arm lift scars
The scar is permanent. I place it with great care, and I will always show you where it would sit before you decide.
Where the scar sits matters a great deal. A poorly placed scar is not only more noticeable from every angle, it can also distort the shape of the arm. I aim for the sweet spot on the inner arm, between the front and the back, where it is least visible from most angles. It usually runs from the armpit towards the elbow, and its length depends on how much skin needs to be removed.
Scars take many months to mature. They begin red and firm, then gradually soften and fade, although they always remain visible. How a scar heals depends on your skin, your genetics and your care afterwards, and my team will guide you through scar care along the way. You can see examples in my arm lift before and after gallery.
The surgery itself
- An arm lift is performed under general anaesthetic.
- Most patients stay in hospital overnight.
- I don’t use drains for this operation.
- You’ll wear compression garments on your arms while you heal. Read more about compression garments after arm lift.
Arm lift recovery
This is a significant operation, and I can’t overemphasise how much preparation matters. I think of surgery like a sandwich: strong and well prepared going in, the operation in the middle, and a return to movement and healthy living afterwards. The better prepared you are beforehand, the smoother the road tends to be.
A general guide:
- The first few days: swelling, bruising and some discomfort, eased with pain relief.
- Weeks one and two: the most restrictive time. Rest with your arms raised, move gently, and avoid lifting.
- After about two weeks: most people can return to light activity, including desk work.
- Four to six weeks: a gradual return to normal activity and exercise, guided at your follow-up.
If your work is physical, such as trades, emergency services, hairdressing or personal training, you will need more time away. We see you regularly while you heal, and you are never on your own with a question. Read more about recovery after arm lift and exercising after surgery.
Risks and complications
All surgery carries risks. With an arm lift these include bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing, raised or widened scars, asymmetry, fluid collection (seroma), prolonged swelling, and changes in sensation in the arm. After major weight loss the tissues have been stretched a great deal, so a smaller revision is sometimes needed later. That isn’t a failure. It reflects how much a body has been through. We’ll go through your own risks carefully at your consultation. Please also read risks and complications of surgery.
How much does an arm lift cost in Melbourne?
Because every arm lift is tailored, there is no single price. Your quote includes the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist, surgical assistant, hospital costs, follow-up appointments, compression garments, a scar management program and post-operative nursing support. You’ll receive an itemised quote after your consultation. For a fuller explanation, see arm lift cost in Australia.
Medicare item 30169: If you have lost significant weight (equivalent to at least five BMI points), your weight has been stable for at least six months, and the excess skin causes a genuine functional or skin problem, your arm lift may be eligible for Medicare item 30169. This is assessed at your consultation and is never automatic. The rebate itself is modest, but a valid item number is what allows your private health fund to contribute to hospital and theatre costs. If an arm lift is cosmetic, no item number applies and it is self-funded. See my Medicare and payment plans pages.
Choosing your surgeon
For surgery of this kind, look for a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with FRACS (Plas), and ask how often they perform the operation. I am also Board Certified in cosmetic plastic surgery by the ANZBCPS, a certification open only to specialist plastic surgeons and renewed every year. You can confirm any doctor’s registration on the AHPRA public register. Read more about me.
Frequently asked questions
Planning your consultation
A GP referral is essential for a surgical consultation. You can find out more on my GP referral page. The consultation fee is $300, paid when booking.
At your consultation we’ll talk about what has brought you here, I’ll examine you and take photographs, and we’ll go through whether an arm lift is right for you, what can realistically be achieved, where the scar would sit, and what recovery involves. There is no obligation to go ahead, and you’re welcome to bring someone with you.
If you’re not ready to book yet, you can begin with a complimentary photo assessment or download my guide to arm lift surgery.
My rooms are at 246 Mitcham Road, Mitcham, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Call (03) 9852 0545.
Your experience is where every plan begins. If surgery is right for you, we will guide you, and care for you, every step of the way.
Written by Dr Carmen Munteanu, MD, FRACS (Plas), Specialist Plastic Surgeon, 25+ years in surgical practice. Board Certified — Australian & New Zealand Board of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (ANZBCPS), recertified annually. AHPRA MED0001211281. This page is general information only and is not personal medical advice. All surgery carries risks, and individual results vary. A GP referral is required. Images and content are intended for audiences aged 18+.
