Procedures · Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) in Jeddah

Medically reviewed by Dr. Khalid Almutairi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon — last reviewed 2026-08-29

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes excess loose skin from the upper arm and reshapes the underlying soft tissues.

Skin redundancy commonly develops following major weight loss, aging, or changes in skin elasticity.

When skin has lost substantial elasticity, exercise may strengthen the underlying muscles but cannot remove the hanging skin itself.

Brachioplasty is designed to create a smoother and more proportionate contour from the armpit toward the elbow.

Who May Benefit?

Arm-lift surgery may be considered for patients with:

• Hanging upper-arm skin.
• Significant laxity after weight loss.
• Excess tissue that moves during arm activity.
• Difficulty fitting clothing around the upper arms.
• Persistent upper-arm disproportion.
• Skin redundancy following previous liposuction.

Liposuction Versus Arm Lift

Liposuction and brachioplasty treat different problems.

Liposuction reduces excess fat when the skin has sufficient elasticity to contract afterward.

Brachioplasty removes excess skin when that elasticity has been lost.

Some patients benefit from a combination.

Short-Scar Brachioplasty

When skin excess is limited mainly to the uppermost part of the arm near the armpit, a shorter incision may occasionally be possible.

However, a short scar cannot adequately treat significant loose skin extending toward the elbow.

Standard Brachioplasty

When skin excess extends along much of the upper arm, an incision extending from the axillary region toward the elbow is usually necessary.

Its precise position is selected to balance effective tissue removal with reasonable scar concealment.

Extended Brachioplasty

Patients following massive weight loss may have skin excess extending beyond the arm into the armpit, lateral chest, or upper trunk.

In these cases, the incision may be extended to treat the entire deformity rather than stopping artificially at the axilla.

The Scar

The principal trade-off of brachioplasty is the scar.

The more extensive the skin excess, the longer the required incision.

Upper-arm scars can sometimes widen, thicken, or remain noticeable.

This possibility should be understood before surgery.

What Results Can Be Expected?

Brachioplasty can improve:

• Upper-arm circumference.
• Hanging skin.
• Arm definition.
• Proportion between the arms and torso.
• Clothing fit.
• Skin movement during activity.

The objective is a natural arm contour rather than an excessively tight appearance.

Risks

Potential complications include:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Seroma.
• Delayed wound healing.
• Wound separation.
• Changes in sensation.
• Arm swelling.
• Lymphatic swelling.
• Contour irregularity.
• Scar widening or thickening.
• Asymmetry.
• Residual skin laxity.
• Need for revision.

Your Consultation

Both arms are assessed with the patient standing and moving naturally.

Planning considers:

• Skin excess.
• Fat distribution.
• Skin elasticity.
• Location of the posterior arm groove.
• Axillary laxity.
• Lateral chest laxity.
• Previous scars.
• Arm proportions.

The planned incision is discussed openly before surgery so that the expected improvement can be weighed against the scar required to achieve it.