OVERVIEW

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift Surgery)

Arm Lift at a Glance

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes loose upper-arm skin and may be combined with liposuction when excess fat is also present. Evita Clinic in Seoul offers micro, mini, and standard techniques with fixed package prices from ₩2,200,000.

  • Best suited for: adults with loose upper-arm skin, stable weight, and realistic expectations about scars
  • Typical light activity: 1–2 weeks
  • Compression garment: generally 3–4 weeks
  • Heavy lifting and upper-body exercise: only after medical clearance, commonly after 4–6 weeks

The appropriate incision and whether liposuction should be combined are determined after examining skin laxity, fat distribution, medical history, and surgical goals.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Francis Jeon, MD, Board-Certified Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon. Last reviewed: July 14, 2026.

STANDARD DESIGN OF

Brachioplasty

Brachioplasty incision design for upper-arm skin removal

What is Brachioplasty?

Brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift, is a surgical procedure that removes excess upper-arm skin and, when needed, fat. It reshapes the area from the armpit toward the elbow.

Good candidates generally:

  • Have significant loose or hanging upper-arm skin after weight loss or aging
  • Are at a relatively stable weight and are not significantly overweight
  • Do not smoke, or can stop as directed before and after surgery
  • Do not have uncontrolled medical conditions that may impair healing or increase surgical risk
  • Understand that a permanent incision scar is the main trade-off for a tighter contour

If skin elasticity is good and excess fat is the main concern, arm liposuction may be more appropriate.

Arm Lift vs. Arm Liposuction

Question Arm Liposuction Brachioplasty
Main concern Excess fat Loose skin, with or without excess fat
Skin removal No Yes
Scar Small access incisions Varies from an armpit scar to a longer inner-arm scar
Can procedures be combined? Yes, when both excess fat and skin laxity need correction
Upper-arm skin laxity suitable for brachioplasty

Have sagging or drooping skin along your upper arms

Loose upper-arm skin after major weight loss

Have experienced major weight loss leading to excess arm skin

Poor upper-arm skin elasticity that may require an arm lift

Struggle with poor skin elasticity that does not improve with exercise

Types of Brachioplasty

Procedure Type Description KRW USD
Micro Brachioplasty 5–6 cm elliptical skin excision within the armpit ₩2,200,000 $1,500
Mini Brachioplasty Limited skin excision extending from the armpit into part of the upper arm ₩4,400,000 $3,000
Standard Brachioplasty Full-length excision along the inner upper arm ₩5,500,000 $3,600

We also offer Arm + Armpit Liposuction as an additional procedure: ₩2,750,000 / $1,900

Fixed package pricing: The listed prices include surgery, anesthesia, postoperative wound care, follow-up management, and VAT. Postoperative prescription medicines and compression garments are not included. USD amounts are approximate; payment is charged in KRW.

DETAIL

Procedure

Consult

  • Check BMI

  • Detailed Consultation with Surgeon

  • Planning the surgery with the Medical Coordinator

  • Set an Operation Day

  • Follow the Pre-operative Instructions

Operation Day

  • Sign a Consent Form

  • Take Photos

  • Designing

  • Monitored sedation with tumescent local anesthesia

  • Surgery (2~4 hours)

Within  1 ~ 7 days

  • Daily Incision Care

  • Check the Amount of Drainage

  • Light Therapy

  • Rest & Ambulation

  • Removal of Drain

After  1 week

  • Stitch Out

  • Free Radio Frequency  Massage

  • Scar Prevention Care

  • May take shower

  • Begin light exercise only after medical clearance; avoid heavy arm use

Incision & Scarring

  • Micro/Mini incisions are placed in or near the armpit crease. A scar remains, and its visibility varies with incision length and individual healing.

  • Standard Brachioplasty requires an incision along the inner side of the arm. Though longer, this is strategically placed to be less visible when the arms are at rest.

  • Scar treatment programs are available at our clinic to improve healing and appearance.

Brachioplasty before and after results showing surgical arm lift with improved upper arm contour and well-concealed inner arm scar.

Recovery Timeline

Most patients return to light daily activity within 1–2 weeks. Bruising and swelling usually improve over the first several weeks, while the contour continues to settle for at least 4 months. Scars may continue to mature for up to 1 year. A compression garment is generally worn for 3–4 weeks. Heavy lifting and upper-body exercise should resume only after medical clearance, commonly after 4–6 weeks.

Postoperative Milestones Duration
Back to daily activity 1–2 weeks
Compression garment 3–4 weeks
Bruising/swelling subsides 2–4 weeks
Contour stabilization At least 4 months
Scar fading Up to 1 year

Risks & Considerations

Like any surgical procedure, brachioplasty has potential risks and limitations. These may include:

  • Visible, widened, hypertrophic, or keloid scars
  • Seroma, hematoma, bleeding, or infection
  • Delayed wound healing or wound separation, particularly near the armpit
  • Temporary or persistent numbness, tightness, or sensory change
  • Asymmetry, contour irregularity, or dissatisfaction with the cosmetic result
  • Anesthesia-related complications, blood clots, or the need for revision surgery

Individual risk depends on health history, smoking, BMI, procedure extent, and combined procedures. The surgeon reviews benefits, alternatives, and patient-specific risks before consent.

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift Surgery) – Frequently Asked Questions

What is brachioplasty, and how is it different from arm liposuction?

Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift surgery, is a procedure designed to improve sagging upper arms by addressing skin laxity alone or both excess fat and loose skin.
Unlike arm liposuction, which only removes fat, brachioplasty corrects visible skin sagging through skin excision when necessary.

Brachioplasty is most suitable for adults with significant loose or sagging upper-arm skin, a relatively stable weight, and realistic expectations about scars. Candidates should be in suitable health for surgery and should not smoke, or should stop as directed. If skin elasticity is good and excess fat is the main concern, arm liposuction alone may be sufficient.

When a large volume of fat removal is required or when poor skin elasticity makes postoperative sagging clearly predictable, arm liposuction and brachioplasty are performed together to achieve a stable and natural result.

Evita Clinic generally performs brachioplasty under monitored sedation with tumescent local anesthesia in appropriately selected patients. The anesthesia plan is determined after reviewing the surgical extent, BMI, medical history, and individual risk factors.

Most patients can return to daily activities within 1–2 weeks, while strenuous exercise and heavy arm use are usually recommended after 4–6 weeks, depending on individual recovery.

The most significant drawback of brachioplasty is the presence of visible incision scars, as skin excision is unavoidable.
Scar appearance varies individually, and proper postoperative scar management is essential. In some cases, additional treatments such as laser therapy or even tattoo coverage may be used to camouflage scars.

Contour improvement is visible early, but swelling and internal tissues require time to settle. Allow at least 4 months for the contour to stabilize, while scars can continue to mature for up to 1 year.

Brachioplasty results are long-lasting when body weight remains stable. Although aging continues naturally, the removed excess skin does not return.

Evita Clinic uses fixed package prices by procedure type: micro, mini, or standard brachioplasty. The appropriate type is selected after consultation based on skin laxity, scar placement, and surgical extent. Combined arm and armpit liposuction has a separate fixed price.

Yes. The displayed price is a fixed package price that includes surgery, anesthesia, postoperative wound care, follow-up management, and VAT. Postoperative prescription medicines and compression garments are excluded. USD prices are approximate, and payment is charged in KRW.

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