Safe and professional
Felt I was in very safe and professional hands from my first consultation with Bo. ESPECIALLY on the day of the operation itself, when I was very n…
Thomas Hansen
About the treatment
An arm lift can be a solution if the skin on your upper arms has lost its firmness as a result of significant weight loss, ageing or natural changes in the body's tissue. When the skin becomes lax, it can affect both the body's proportions and how comfortable you feel day to day. The treatment can give the arms a firmer, slimmer and more defined contour and a more harmonious appearance, so that your arms feel better balanced with the rest of your body.
At Caolín, the treatment is always tailored to you, with a focus on natural proportions, discreet scars and results that feel like a natural extension of you.
At a glance
- Price
- On request
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Hospital stay
- 1-3 hours
- Downtime
- 1-2 weeks
- Final result
- After 6–12 months
What is an arm lift?
During an arm lift, the excess skin and any excess fat are removed from the inner side of the upper arms. The incision is placed along the inner side of the arm, from the elbow towards the armpit. In some cases, a scar in the fold of the armpit alone is enough (a minimal arm lift), depending on the extent of the excess skin. The remaining skin is tightened and closed carefully, and the result is firmer, more defined arms.
The procedure is always combined with liposuction of the upper arms and leaves a scar either along the inner side of the arm or in the armpit itself. The scar is placed in the arm's natural folds, where it is least visible. At Caolín, scar placement and uncompromising suturing are an integral part of the surgical planning, and we use the finest techniques to minimise the visibility of the scar over time.
When is an arm lift needed?
It is important to have realistic expectations of the result. An arm lift gives firmer, more defined arms, but it leaves a discreet scar. For most people the trade-off is clear, but it is a personal decision, which we discuss openly at your consultation.
Significant weight loss
Significant weight loss – whether after a change of diet and exercise or after bariatric surgery or weight-loss medication – often leaves excess skin on the upper arms that cannot contract again.
Natural ageing
With age, the skin loses its elasticity, and the inner side of the upper arms is particularly exposed.
Genetic predisposition
Some people have an inherited tendency towards lax skin on the upper arms, regardless of their weight and activity level.
Techniques and scars
Minimal arm lift (short incision)
With limited excess skin located mainly in the upper part of the arm near the armpit, a shorter incision confined to the fold of the armpit can give a good result with a very discreet scar. The method is suitable for younger patients with good skin elasticity and moderate excess skin.
Standard arm lift
This is the most commonly performed variant. The incision runs along the inner side of the arm from the elbow to the fold of the armpit and makes it possible to remove excess skin along the entire length of the upper arm. This gives the most pronounced and even result and can, if needed, be extended to include the forearm as well. The scar is placed on the inner side of the arm, where it is least visible when the arm is in its natural position.
Extended brachioplasty
With pronounced excess skin extending from the arm across the side of the chest, the incision is extended past the fold of the armpit and down along the side of the torso. This is relevant after very significant weight loss, where the skin hangs in a continuous fold from arm to body. This variant leaves a larger scar, but in return gives a markedly better overall contour.
Combined liposuction and arm lift
Liposuction is almost always carried out in combination with the arm lift, to reduce the amount of fat and give a more even, slimmer shape to the arms. The fat that is removed can, if relevant, be reused for fat grafting elsewhere on the body, for example the breasts.
Combination options
Liposuction
Almost always combined with the arm lift, to shape and define the contour of the arm as well as possible.
Tummy tuck and thigh lift
An arm lift is frequently combined with other skin-removal procedures as part of an overall body-contouring treatment after massive weight loss.
Breast reduction or breast lift
Many people choose to treat the arms and breasts in the same session, as the changes often occur in parallel.
Reviews
What our patients say
Good to know
Questions and answers
Here you'll find the whole process step by step — from consultation to your first weeks at home. If there's anything you can't find an answer to, bring it along to your consultation.
An arm lift is a well-documented procedure with few serious complications. The most relevant are bleeding, infection, wound healing problems, asymmetry and possibly unsightly scarring. The risk of wound healing problems is increased by smoking and a high BMI. All risks are reviewed thoroughly at your consultation.
Every treatment at Caolín starts with a thorough, no-obligation consultation, where the surgeon assesses your skin, the contour of your arm and the extent of the excess skin and fat, and advises you on the technique that will give the best result with the smallest possible scar.
You are welcome to bring someone with you, and you can contact us with questions at any point along the way.
Liposuction removes fat, but it does not tighten the skin. In younger patients with good skin elasticity and mainly fat deposits on the upper arms, liposuction alone can give a good result. This is particularly true in combination with Renuvion. With pronounced lax and sagging skin, an arm lift is the right solution.
The scar is placed along the inner side of the arm, where it is least visible when the arms are in their natural position by your sides. It is red and visible for the first 6–12 months and then fades gradually. At Caolín, scar placement and uncompromising suturing are a priority, and we use the finest techniques to minimise visibility over time.
Yes – an arm lift is frequently combined with liposuction, a tummy tuck, a thigh lift and breast surgery, particularly in patients after massive weight loss who want an overall body-contouring treatment.
Light activity with the arms is allowed from day 1, but heavy lifting and stretching exercises are discouraged for 6–8 weeks. Desk-based work can be resumed after 1-2 weeks. Your surgeon will advise you specifically on what is allowed and when.
Yes – lax skin on the upper arms affects men and women to the same degree, particularly after significant weight loss. At Caolín, the technique and the contouring are also adapted to masculine proportions and appearance.
Further weight loss after the arm lift can change the result and in some cases create new excess skin. We recommend that you are close to your ideal weight and have had a stable weight for at least 3–6 months before the surgery.
To some extent – stretch marks located in the area of skin that is removed disappear with the surgery. Stretch marks outside this area are not affected by the procedure.
The swelling subsides gradually over 3–6 months, and the scar matures over 6–12 months. The final result – with the scar faded and all the swelling gone – is visible after 6–12 months at the earliest.
A minimal arm lift has a shorter incision confined to the fold of the armpit and is suitable for small to moderate excess skin near the armpit. A standard arm lift runs along the entire inner side of the upper arm and is suitable where there is excess skin along the whole length of the arm. The choice depends on the extent of the excess skin and is assessed at your consultation.
The process
What to expect at Caolín
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Consultation
The process starts with a thorough consultation with your plastic surgeon, where you go through your wishes, your expectations and the changes you would like to achieve together. The surgeon assesses your skin elasticity, the quality of the tissue and the proportions of your arm, in order to plan the treatment that suits you best.
In some cases, the treatment can be combined with liposuction to create a more harmonious transition and even better definition. At the same time, you receive an honest review of the options, the limitations and the factors that can affect both healing and the final result. It is important to us that you feel reassured, well informed and realistic in your expectations before you make your decision.
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Before the surgery
Once your treatment plan is in place, we guide you thoroughly through all the preparations leading up to the day of surgery. You will receive information on medication, dietary supplements, smoking and fasting, as these factors can affect safety, anaesthesia and your body's ability to heal as well as possible.
On the day of surgery, you are welcomed by our team, where you meet the nurse, the anaesthetist and the surgeon. Before the surgery, the treatment area is carefully marked, and the plan is reviewed with you one last time, so you feel completely reassured and well prepared.
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During the surgery
The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and typically takes 2–3 hours, depending on the extent of the treatment. During the surgery, excess skin and tissue are gently removed to create firmer, more harmonious contours around the upper arms.
If relevant, the treatment can be combined with liposuction to improve the transition between the arm and the shoulder. In some cases, drains are placed temporarily to support the body's healing in the first phase. The incisions are closed with fine dissolvable stitches, and the area is protected with compression to support the tissue and reduce swelling.
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After the surgery
After the surgery, you are monitored by our staff until you are ready to go home. It is completely normal to experience tenderness, tightness, swelling and slight discolouration in the early days. Your body needs rest and time to adapt to the change.
We recommend light movement right from the start to support your circulation, but at the same time the arms must be spared heavy lifting and greater strain in the early period. Compression garments should be worn as instructed by the surgeon, to support healing and help the skin adapt to its new shape.
The result develops gradually over the coming months, as the swelling subsides and the tissue settles naturally into place. You are followed closely throughout the whole process and can always contact us if you have questions along the way.
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Recovery and what to expect
In the first weeks, your arms may feel tender, swollen and tight, and there may be a limit to what you can lift with them. This is to be expected and subsides gradually.
The scar will be red and visible at first, but fades gradually over the first 6–12 months. Most people then find that in everyday life it is almost invisible when the arm is in its natural position.
Book a free consultation at Caolín
Your journey begins with a personal consultation. Here we go through your wishes and options, so that together we can create a treatment plan that feels right for you.
The specialists
Bo Sonnich Rasmussen, MD, PHD
Founder & Chief Plastic Surgeon
Bo Sonnich Rasmussen is a consultant in plastic surgery and one of the Nordic region's leading specialists in cosmetic breast surgery and advanced facial surgery, and one of the few surgeons to master endoscopic facelifts with no visible scars. He holds a PhD in breast reconstruction with stem cell-enriched fat transfer and is internationally recognised for his work and research in the field.
Frederik Kølle, MD, PHD
Founder & Chief Plastic Surgeon
Frederik Kølle is a certified and internationally recognised plastic surgeon specialising in facial and cosmetic surgery as well as advanced fat transfer and body contouring. He is among the leading experts in the Nordic region and masters the full spectrum of facial and breast surgery.
Related treatments
Financing your treatment
We offer financing so you can spread the cost. If you have any questions about financing, you are always welcome to contact us – or ask at your consultation.
The calculation is for guidance only. Credit assessment and terms are set by Resurs Bank.