Mr Will Anderson
Consultant plastic surgeon
GMC 3679250
Arm lift surgery in Edinburgh
Loose skin on the upper arms, common after weight loss and with age, does not respond to exercise once its elasticity has gone. Arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) is by consultant plastic surgeons at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh.
- Anaesthetic
- General
- Length
- About 2 hours
- Hospital stay
- Day case or one night
- Recovery
- 1 to 2 weeks off work
Guide pricefrom £8,800
- Consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register
- Surgery at Waterfront Private Hospital, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
- Your consultation and your operation with the same consultant
Contents
Results from our patients
Real patients, shared with their consent and not retouched. Results vary from person to person.
Is it right for me?
The ideal candidate for arm lift surgery has loose upper-arm skin with reduced elasticity — most often after significant weight loss or with age — and is at a stable weight.
- Excess, sagging skin of the upper arm that does not improve with exercise.
- Skin laxity too great for liposuction alone to correct.
- A weight that has been stable for several months before surgery.
- A non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking before and after surgery.
- An informed acceptance of a permanent scar in exchange for a better contour.
Where the main issue is fatty tissue with good skin elasticity and little excess skin, liposuction alone may be the more appropriate option. Your consultant assesses the pattern of skin and fat at consultation and gives an honest recommendation, including where surgery is not advisable.
Unsure? Try the free AI consultation, or ask at your appointment.
What arm lift surgery involves
An arm lift (brachioplasty) removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm, tightening and lifting the tissue that remains. The procedure addresses the loose, sagging skin that often develops with age, after weight loss, or through genetics.
Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia at Waterfront Private Hospital and takes around two hours. An incision is made along the upper arm, excess skin and fat are removed, and the remaining skin is re-draped to give a firmer contour. The scar is generally positioned toward the back of the arm, where it is not noticeable when the arms are down by the sides.
Arm lift surgery at Quaba is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it, and reviews you afterwards.
Arm lift and liposuction: which is appropriate?
There are two main options for correcting excess upper arm skin and fat, and the right one depends on how much loose skin is present and how elastic the skin remains. The two approaches are described below.
Liposuction
Liposuction
Liposuction is useful when there is fatty tissue and not too much excess skin. The other essential requirement is that the skin has reasonable elasticity so that it can shrink back after the liposuction.
Liposuction does not work well when skin quality is poor and where skin excess is significant.
Surgical removal of skin/ fat
Surgical removal of skin/ fat
Surgical removal/ brachioplasty remains the best option for dealing with excess skin of reduced elasticity. Many prospective patients are put off by the long scars that may result, and it is vital that anyone considering this surgery has a good understanding of the nature of the scarring.
Generally speaking, the scars can be hidden toward the back of the arms and are not noticeable when the arms are down by the sides. The images below show typical scars six months after surgery.
Arm lift scar – 6 months (results will vary from patient to patient)
What arm lift surgery can and can't do
An arm lift reliably removes loose skin from the upper arm. The trade-off is a long scar on the inside of the arm, and we want you to decide with that in full view.
It can
- Remove loose, hanging skin along the inner upper arm that weight loss and exercise have not shifted.
- Ease chafing and irritation under the upper arm.
- Bring the shape of your arms more in line with the rest of your body, particularly after weight loss.
- Make fitted sleeves and sleeveless tops easier to wear.
It can’t
- Avoid a long scar. A full arm lift leaves a scar along the inner arm from the armpit towards the elbow, which shows when your arms are raised. It fades but is permanent.
- Treat arm fat on its own. If your skin still has good elasticity, liposuction may be the better option.
- Change skin tone or texture. The skin that remains is the same skin, with the same quality and marks.
- Help you lose weight. Only a small amount of tissue is removed, and the result lasts best at a stable weight.
- Do much as a mini lift for most people. A shorter scar near the armpit removes too little skin in most cases, which is why we usually recommend a full arm lift.
Your consultant will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.
What is the cost of arm lift surgery?
Arm lift surgery at Quaba is £8,800.
- Arm lift (brachioplasty): £8,800.
The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.
The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery.
Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200. Where a further consultation would help you reach a decision, this is offered without additional charge.
Quick answers
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my arm lift?
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my arm lift?
Yes. Arm lift surgery at Quaba is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital, and reviews you afterwards.
Who will perform my arm lift?
Who will perform my arm lift?
Your arm lift is planned and performed by one of our consultant plastic surgeons, Mr Will Anderson, Mr Omar Quaba, Ms Ewa Majdak-Paredes and Mr Ken Stewart, all on the GMC Specialist Register. You choose your consultant, meet them at your first appointment, and the same consultant operates and sees you afterwards.
Can I see results from your surgeons?
Can I see results from your surgeons?
Yes. Our arm lift before and after gallery shows patients treated at Quaba Plastic Surgery, shared with their consent. Results vary between people, and your consultant will show you what is realistic for you at your consultation.
I live in Glasgow. Can I have my surgery with you?
I live in Glasgow. Can I have my surgery with you?
Yes. Many of our patients travel from Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland. Your consultation, surgery and reviews are in Edinburgh, about an hour away from Glasgow by train or car, and your surgery takes place at Waterfront Private Hospital.
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
Your Quaba consultant stays responsible for your care after surgery. A nurse sees you a week after your operation, more often if you need it, and your consultant reviews you at around six months, when the result has settled. If anything worries you before then, contact us and your consultant will reply directly and see you as soon as needed.
How much does arm lift surgery cost?
How much does arm lift surgery cost?
Arm lift surgery at Quaba is £8,800. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.
All our guide prices are on our pricing page.
Is an arm lift the same as bingo wings removal?
Is an arm lift the same as bingo wings removal?
“Bingo wings” is an informal name for the loose skin that hangs from the upper arm. An arm lift (brachioplasty) is the surgical procedure that removes this excess skin and fat and tightens the contour of the upper arm.
Will an arm lift leave a scar?
Will an arm lift leave a scar?
Yes. The scar runs along the upper arm and is permanent; the length and quality of the scarring is the main downside of the procedure. The scar is generally positioned toward the back of the arm, where it is not noticeable when the arms are down by the sides, and most scars settle over 2 to 3 years.
Can liposuction treat my arms instead of an arm lift?
Can liposuction treat my arms instead of an arm lift?
Liposuction is useful when there is fatty tissue, not too much excess skin, and reasonable skin elasticity. Where the skin is loose and its elasticity reduced — common after significant weight loss — surgical removal of skin remains the most reliable option. The right choice is assessed at consultation.
How long does it take to recover from an arm lift?
How long does it take to recover from an arm lift?
Most patients take one to two weeks off work. Bruising and swelling may take two to three weeks to subside, and strenuous exercise should be avoided for six weeks.
When will I see the final result of my arm lift?
When will I see the final result of my arm lift?
The new contour is visible once the early swelling settles over the first few weeks. The scars take longer — up to 2 to 3 years to fully mature and fade.
Can an arm lift be combined with other procedures?
Can an arm lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Arm lift surgery is often performed as part of body contouring after major weight loss, alongside procedures such as abdominoplasty or thigh reduction. Whether a combination is appropriate for your case is decided at consultation.
Will the excess skin come back after an arm lift?
Will the excess skin come back after an arm lift?
The skin that is removed does not return. The contour of the arm will continue to change naturally with age, and significant weight change after surgery can affect the result.
The surgeons who do this
You meet your consultant at your first appointment. The same consultant plans your surgery, carries it out and sees you afterwards.
Risks, and how often they happen
Every operation carries risk. Here they are in three groups. The figures come from UK national guidance and published studies, averaged across many patients, so your own risk may be higher or lower. Your consultant will go through what applies to you, and every risk is in your written consent.
- Expected
- Uncommon
- Rare
- For the long term
Expected Almost everyone, and they settle
- Swelling and bruising in the first one to two weeks, settling over several weeks.
- Tightness and discomfort along the inner arm, usually much better after the first week.
- A long scar along the inner arm, red and raised at first and fading over 12 to 18 months.
- Some numbness near the scar, usually temporary.
Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment
- Part of the wound opening up (dehiscence) or healing slowly. Smoking makes this more likely, and most heal with dressings.
About 1 in 15
- Fluid or blood collecting under the skin (seroma or haematoma), which may need draining.
About 1 in 10
- An infection needing antibiotics.
About 1 in 30
- Damage to a small skin nerve, leaving numbness, tingling or tenderness on the inner arm or forearm, occasionally permanent.
About 1 in 50
- A small difference between the two arms, or some residual loose skin. We prefer to take slightly less than too much, because removing too much skin raises the risk of wound problems.
Rare but serious
- A blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE). We assess your risk and take steps to prevent it.
About 1 in 500
- A serious reaction to the anaesthetic.
Very rare
For the long term
- The scar is permanent. It settles over 12 to 18 months. About 1 in 10 thicken or widen and may need further treatment.
- Longer-lasting swelling of the arm (lymphoedema) affects about 1 in 50 and may need compression garments.
- Some looseness can return. About 1 in 15 people have a second operation to refine the result once things have settled.
- Weight change and age still matter. Significant weight gain will affect the result, and the skin keeps ageing.
More from surgery after weight loss, where an arm lift is often one of several operations.
Where these figures come from
- Aljerian et al 2022For: wound dehiscence; seroma or haematoma; infection; nerve injury; lymphoedema; thickened or widened scar; second operation to refine the result
- Winocour et al, Venous thromboembolism in the cosmetic patient: analysis of 129,007 patients, Aesthet Surg J 2017For: DVT or PE
- Royal College of Anaesthetists, Anaesthesia risk: anaphylaxisFor: serious reaction to the anaesthetic
Aftercare and recovery after arm lift surgery
You will be seen one week after surgery by the nurses to have your outer dressings removed. Bruising and swelling are expected and may take two to three weeks to subside. Most patients take one to two weeks off work, and strenuous exercise should be avoided for six weeks.
A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
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