An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is an operation to reshape the upper arms by removing excess fat and loose, hanging skin from the underside of the arm. At her practice on Harley Street in London, Ms Anna De Leo, a GMC-registered Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon, tailors each brachioplasty to the degree of laxity, combining liposculpture with skin removal and choosing the shortest scar that will achieve a meaningful result.
Loose skin on the upper arms, sometimes called “bingo wings”, is very common. It develops after significant weight loss, with the natural ageing of the skin, or with a more sedentary lifestyle, and it can make sleeveless clothes, swimming and even certain gestures feel self-conscious. Toning exercises can strengthen the muscle beneath, but they cannot make stretched skin contract. When laxity is the problem, surgery is the only reliable way to remove it – with the understanding that doing so leaves a permanent scar.
01What Is an Arm Lift?
Brachioplasty addresses two components of the upper arm that often occur together: excess fat and loose skin. Ms De Leo's approach typically begins with liposuction to reduce and refine the fatty tissue, followed by removal of redundant skin and tightening of the remaining tissue to create a smoother, slimmer contour from the elbow to the armpit.
The type of arm lift depends on how much loose skin there is and where it lies:
Short-scar (axillary) brachioplasty
When laxity is mild to moderate and concentrated in the upper part of the arm near the armpit, excess skin can be removed through an incision hidden in the axillary fossa (the hollow of the armpit). The scar is short and largely concealed when the arm is at the side.
Extended or full brachioplasty
When the skin hangs significantly along the length of the arm, as often happens after major weight loss, a longer incision is required along the inner or back of the upper arm, from the armpit towards the elbow. This removes much more skin and gives a far stronger tightening, but the scar is long and may be visible, particularly when the arms are raised.
Liposuction alone
If the skin is still elastic and the main concern is fat, liposuction without skin excision may be enough, leaving only tiny access scars.
02Who Is a Good Candidate for Brachioplasty?
An arm lift may suit you if:
- you have loose, sagging skin on the underside of the upper arms that has not improved with exercise;
- you have lost a significant amount of weight and have been stable for at least six to twelve months;
- you have excess fat in the upper arm alongside skin laxity;
- you are a non-smoker in good general health;
- you are prepared to accept a permanent scar in exchange for an improved contour.
Typical candidates include people who have lost weight through lifestyle change or bariatric surgery, those whose skin has lost elasticity with age, and people whose arms have softened after a less active period. Patients after major weight loss often consider a thigh lift or tummy tuck too; these are usually staged for safety. People with lymphoedema of the arm or certain circulatory conditions need particularly careful assessment.
Preparing for an arm lift
Good preparation makes a real difference to healing. You will usually be asked to stop aspirin-containing medicines and certain supplements around two weeks before surgery, to stop smoking well in advance, and to arrange help with lifting, shopping and driving for the first fortnight. Patients travelling into London from further afield may prefer to stay nearby for the first few days after surgery.
03Your Arm Lift Consultation on Harley Street
Your consultation at 64 Harley Street, Marylebone, begins with a full medical history: weight changes, any bariatric surgery, general health, medications (including blood-thinning drugs and supplements) and lifestyle. Ms Anna De Leo will then examine your arms with them raised and at rest, assessing the amount and position of loose skin, the fat layer and skin quality.
The most important conversation is about scars. Ms De Leo will show you where the scar would lie for each option and explain the trade-off between scar length and the degree of tightening, so that you can choose with clear expectations. She will also outline the preoperative tests you may need, such as blood tests and, depending on your health, an ECG, as well as the factors that shape a personalised plan – extent of surgery, anaesthetic, operating time, overnight stay and aftercare. Many women seeking the best arm lift surgeon in London value talking through this with a female surgeon.
As with all cosmetic surgery, GMC guidance requires a cooling-off period of at least two weeks between consultation and operation.
04Arm Lift Technique and Scar Placement
Each brachioplasty is marked carefully before surgery with your arms in a raised position, so that the scar can be placed where it will be least noticeable in everyday life.
- Liposculpture: excess fat is reduced through small incisions, refining the arm and making skin removal more precise.
- Skin excision: loose skin is removed through the armpit incision or, where necessary, through a longer incision on the inner or posterior arm. Placing the scar towards the inner aspect of the arm or along its back is discussed with you, as each has advantages.
- Protecting nerves and lymphatics: careful dissection respects the sensory nerves and lymphatic channels of the arm, reducing the risk of numbness and prolonged swelling.
- Layered closure: deep sutures take the tension, with fine absorbable sutures at the skin surface, so there is usually no need for stitch removal.
Scars from a full arm lift are permanent and can be visible, particularly with sleeveless clothing. Ms De Leo supports scar maturation with silicone, taping, scar massage and laser-based scar treatment to help them become as flat and pale as possible over nine to twelve months or more.
The best arm lift is an honest negotiation between contour and scar, settled together before the first mark is drawn.
ADLSynergy · Harley Street
05Arm Lift Recovery Time
Most patients find recovery from an arm lift manageable, though it requires care in the first weeks:
- Hospital: a day case or one night in an accredited London hospital.
- First week: arms are wrapped in a compressive elastic bandage or sleeve, and kept elevated on pillows when resting to reduce swelling.
- One to two weeks: return to desk-based work for most people, avoiding lifting and reaching overhead.
- Four to six weeks: compression sleeves are worn as advised, and normal activities resume gradually.
- Four to six weeks onwards: return to sport and upper-body exercise, usually not before a month.
Some swelling of the hands and forearms can occur early on and gradually settles. Follow-up appointments are held on Harley Street, and the ADLSynergy team supports recovery with scar management, lymphatic drainage, red light therapy and oxygen therapy where appropriate, alongside nutrition and lifestyle support through our longevity programme.
06Arm Lift Risks and Limitations
Brachioplasty is generally safe, but every surgical procedure carries risks. These include:
- visible scarring – the most significant consideration, especially after a full-length arm lift; scars may widen, thicken or become raised;
- wound-healing problems, especially near the armpit;
- seroma, haematoma or bleeding;
- infection;
- numbness or altered sensation of the inner arm or forearm due to nerve irritation, usually temporary;
- persistent swelling of the arm (lymphoedema), which is uncommon;
- asymmetry or residual laxity, occasionally requiring revision;
- blood clots and anaesthetic risks.
Before and after photographs can show the improvement brachioplasty may bring, but results vary with skin quality, weight stability and healing. Future weight gain or loss can change the outcome.
07Why Choose Ms Anna De Leo on Harley Street
Ms Anna De Leo is a female plastic surgeon with more than twenty years of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. She is a Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS), holds a European Diploma in Hand Surgery and a European Master's Degree in Reconstructive Microsurgery, and is a member of BAPRAS and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Her training and work span the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Chelsea and Westminster, the Royal Free and Oxford University Hospitals.
Her detailed knowledge of upper-limb anatomy, from the hand to the shoulder, informs a careful approach to arm contouring. From her practice on Harley Street, ADLSynergy combines surgery with recovery science and scar therapy. To explore an arm lift in London, please book a consultation or read more about Ms De Leo.
