Surgical · 6 min read
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) After Weight Loss
By Dr Hassan Soueid · MD, FRCS · Lead Surgeon, Kensington Cosmetic Clinic
Published 21 June 2026
TL;DR. An arm lift removes the loose, hanging skin of the upper arm that no amount of exercise will tighten, usually after major weight loss or with age. It gives a firmer, more defined arm, but it leaves a scar along the inner arm, and that trade-off has to be worth it for you.
Who it is for
Patients with significant skin laxity, often after large weight loss, where the skin has lost its elasticity. If the issue is mainly fat with good skin, liposuction alone may be enough.
The scar conversation
Removing the excess skin means a scar that runs along the inner arm. It fades over time and sits where it is least visible, but it is permanent, and we make sure you accept that before going ahead. For the right patient, a firm arm is well worth a discreet scar.
Fat, skin, or both
- Fat with good skin: liposuction may be all you need.
- Loose skin: an arm lift to excise it.
- Both: the two combined.
Recovery
Compression sleeves, limited arm movement for a couple of weeks, and gradual return to exercise. The shape is immediate, the scar matures over a year.
Frequently asked
Questions we get asked about EnerPeel®
- Will an arm lift leave a scar?
- Yes. Removing loose skin means a scar along the inner arm. It fades over a year and is positioned to be discreet.
- Can liposuction replace an arm lift?
- Only if the problem is fat with good skin tone. Loose skin needs to be excised, which liposuction cannot do.
- When is it suitable after weight loss?
- Once your weight has been stable for several months, so the result is not undone by further change.