What makes it extended?
The skin removal continues beyond the upper arm onto the adjacent side chest.
This creates a longer scar than an arm-only lift. Its position and length depend on where loose tissue needs treatment.
Body Contouring · Arms
Extended Brachioplasty
Extended brachioplasty removes loose skin and excess tissue from the upper arms and adjacent side chest to improve their contour.
Does it remove fat too?
It can remove some excess fat along with skin.
Liposuction may be added when appropriate, but liposuction alone does not remove hanging skin.
What is the main tradeoff?
Less loose skin in exchange for permanent scars.
Suitability depends on your health, skin pattern, goals, and comfort with the planned scars.
01 · Overview
Understanding an extended arm lift
Weight changes, aging, and reduced skin elasticity can leave loose tissue along the upper arms. An arm lift removes excess skin and reshapes the underlying tissues; it is not a weight-loss treatment. [1]
An extended brachioplasty treats a pattern that continues from the arm through the underarm area onto the side chest. Unlike a standard arm lift, it includes this nearby chest tissue. It does not automatically include a breast lift or a full upper-body lift. [2]
Your surgeon will examine your arms both at rest and during movement, discuss the proposed scar, and consider whether your weight and health are stable enough for surgery. The appropriate extent of treatment is individual. [1]
- Treatment area
- Upper arms and adjacent side chest
- Procedure type
- Surgical removal of excess skin and tissue
- Anesthesia
- Often general anesthesia; the team confirms the plan
- Scar pattern
- Along the upper arm, extending onto the side chest
Why might an arm-only lift be insufficient?
When loose skin continues past the armpit, an arm-only operation may leave an untreated fold on the side chest. Extending the removal can address that fold, but adds scar length and another healing area.
Does the name describe one fixed operation?
No. Surgeons may use the term for somewhat different scar lengths and chest extensions. Ask for a drawing of the areas being treated and the planned incisions.
02 · Concerns & Goals
What brings people to consider surgery
Loose skin may affect how clothing fits or how your arms feel during everyday movement. Your surgeon can help identify what an extended arm lift could address.
Hanging upper-arm skin
Skin may hang beneath the arm even when muscle strength and weight are stable.
A fold beside the chest
Loose tissue can continue through the underarm area and affect the fit of sleeves or the side of a bra.
Rubbing and discomfort
Skin folds may rub during movement. Persistent irritation or a rash should also be evaluated for causes that need separate treatment.
Remaining fullness
Some fullness comes from fat, some from loose skin, and some from normal anatomy. An examination helps separate these concerns.
03 · Options
How the approaches differ
The right approach depends on how far loose skin extends, how much fat is present, and which scars you are willing to accept.
Extended brachioplasty
Treats loose upper-arm skin and an adjoining side-chest fold.
How it worksExcess tissue is removed through an incision along the arm that continues onto the side chest.
May suitMay suit people whose loose skin extends beyond the armpit.
Main tradeoffA longer permanent scar and a larger area needing protection during healing.
Extended brachioplasty with liposuction
Combines skin removal with targeted fat reduction.
How it worksLiposuction is used selectively alongside the extended lift.
May suitMay suit people with both loose skin and localized excess fat.
Main tradeoffAdds treatment considerations, including swelling and contour irregularity; it is not appropriate for every tissue pattern.
Standard brachioplasty
Focuses on the upper arm rather than the side chest.
How it worksSkin is removed through an incision generally running between the underarm and elbow region.
May suitMay suit people whose main excess skin is confined to the arms.
Main tradeoffCan leave side-chest looseness untreated.
Limited-incision arm lift
Addresses a smaller amount of looseness near the underarm.
How it worksUses a shorter incision concentrated around the armpit.
May suitMay suit carefully selected people with mild, localized excess skin.
Main tradeoffUsually cannot correct substantial hanging skin or an extended side-chest fold.
Incision length and the use of liposuction depend on the amount and location of excess tissue. A shorter scar may mean less correction. [1] [2].
Can both arms be treated together?
They often are, but this can make dressing, bathing, and household tasks more difficult early on. Your surgeon will consider procedure length, health risks, and the help you have available.
Can it be combined with other body-contouring surgery?
Sometimes. Combining operations increases the overall surgical burden, so staging treatment may be safer or easier to recover from. Discuss the total operating time and recovery demands.
04 · Results
What may improve and what may remain
Contour and clothing
The aim is less hanging tissue along the arms and side chest.
- Clothing may fit differently after excess tissue is removed.
- Natural differences between arms may remain.
- Swelling can obscure the early contour.
Scars and skin quality
Scars are permanent, although their appearance usually changes with time.
- Scars may be visible with raised arms or sleeveless clothing.
- Some scars widen, thicken, or remain darker or lighter than nearby skin.
- Surgery does not correct every skin texture change or stretch mark.
Longer-term changes
Results can last, but aging and weight changes continue.
- A stable weight helps preserve the contour.
- Some looseness may persist or develop again.
- Revision may be considered for healing problems or contour concerns, but is not always needed or advisable.
An arm lift can improve contour, but the final appearance varies with anatomy, skin quality, healing, and the extent of surgery. [1]
05 · Recovery
Planning your recovery
Recovery at a glance
- Stay after surgery
- Determined by Your Surgeon
- Initial recovery at home
- Varies by Individual
- Return to desk work
- Varies by Procedure and Work Activity
- Light daily activities
- Based on Individual Recovery
- Strenuous exercise
- Based on Surgeon Clearance
Returning to work does not mean fully healed. Follow your surgeon’s instructions; strenuous activity requires clearance.
Recovery depends on the length of the arm and chest incisions, any added liposuction, and your health. Use your surgical team's individualized instructions rather than a fixed timetable.
Step 1 · Day of surgery
Treatment day
You are monitored after anesthesia. Dressings, compression garments, or drains may be used. Arrange a ride home and help as directed if you are discharged that day.
Step 2 · First days to 2 weeks
Early healing
Swelling, bruising, soreness, and restricted arm movement are common. Follow-up visits assess the incisions and any drains. Ask your surgical team whether compresses are appropriate and exactly how to use them.
Step 3 · Following weeks
Gradual return
Activity increases as the incisions heal and your surgeon clears movement and lifting. Feeling ready for desk work does not mean the tissues have fully healed.
Step 4 · Following months
Settling and scar maturation
Swelling continues to settle and scars gradually mature. Ask when scar care and sun protection measures are appropriate for your incisions.
Planning everyday activities
ActivityGeneral planning contextWhat affects the plan
Desk workPlanning context: Some people return in roughly 1–2 weeks; others need longer. [2]What affects it: Pain, fatigue, arm support, commuting, and chest-incision healing can affect timing.
DrivingPlanning context: Resume only when your team clears you and you can drive safely.What affects it: Sedating medicine, limited shoulder movement, and difficulty steering or reacting can make driving unsafe.
Lifting and overhead reachingPlanning context: Restrictions commonly last several weeks and are individualized. [2]What affects it: These movements can place tension on the arm, underarm, and chest incisions.
ExercisePlanning context: Gentle movement and strenuous workouts have different clearance points. [1]What affects it: Upper-body training, impact, and friction may stress healing tissues; ask for a staged plan.
These are planning estimates, not clearance to resume an activity. Follow your surgical team's instructions, especially if healing is delayed.
Before your procedure
- Discuss your goals and have the planned arm and chest scars explained.
- Review medical conditions, previous operations, and any history of blood clots or arm swelling.
- Provide a complete list of medicines and supplements; change them only as instructed.
- Discuss nicotine use and the team's requirements for stopping before and after surgery.
- Review weight stability and nutrition, especially after major weight loss or bariatric surgery.
- Arrange transportation, help at home, and time away from lifting or physically demanding work.
Will I need a compression garment or drains?
Possibly. Their use depends on the operation and your surgeon's approach. If prescribed, ask how to manage them, what problems to report, and when they can be removed.
Why does the chest extension matter during recovery?
It adds an incision near an area that moves when you reach or turn. Clothing friction and tension may affect comfort and healing, so your movement and dressing plan should account for it.
06 · Safety
Risks and what your clinician assesses
Temporary swelling, bruising, tightness, soreness, and altered skin sensation are common. Symptoms should generally improve; new, severe, or worsening symptoms need assessment.
Bleeding or fluid collection
Blood or other fluid can collect beneath the skin and may require drainage or another procedure.
Infection or delayed healing
Incisions can become infected, separate, or heal slowly. Some areas of skin or fat may not survive, requiring additional care.
Unfavorable scars
Scars may become raised, wide, painful, uneven, or more visible than expected.
Sensation or nerve changes
Numbness, tingling, or pain may persist. Nerve injury can occasionally affect function.
Contour or lymphatic changes
Asymmetry, residual looseness, irregular contours, or prolonged swelling can occur. Lymphatic injury can cause lasting swelling.
Anesthesia and blood clots
Anesthesia complications and clots in the legs or lungs are uncommon but potentially serious surgical risks.
Discuss these risks and your individual health history with your surgeon. [1]
What your clinician assesses
- Heart and lung health, diabetes, and other conditions affecting anesthesia or healing
- Nicotine exposure, nutrition, and weight stability
- Blood-clot history, bleeding risks, and medicines or supplements
- Previous arm or chest surgery, lymph-node treatment, and existing swelling
07 · Costs
What makes up the Total Procedure & Care Cost
Compare written estimates for the same planned scope: both arms, the extent of side-chest treatment, any liposuction, and the expected follow-up.
Surgeon
Surgical care
Surgeon services for the agreed arm and side-chest procedure.
Ask your surgeonAsk which areas are included, whether liposuction is included, and how revision care is handled.
Facility
Anesthesia and facility
Anesthesia services, operating-room use, and recovery monitoring.
Ask your surgeonAsk whether these are billed separately and whether an overnight stay would add charges.
Supplies
Supplies and follow-up
Potential needs include garments, dressings, medicines, and postoperative visits.
Ask your surgeonConfirm what is included and how extra visits or treatment for complications would be billed.
TRC
Patient Services
Any separately offered scheduling, education, or care-coordination services.
Ask TRCAsk which services are optional, who provides them, and whether separate fees apply.
Your written estimate should explain the services included, any separate charges, and payment terms.
08 · Questions
Common questions
Will insurance cover an extended arm lift?
Cosmetic arm lifts are generally not covered. If excess skin causes documented medical problems, ask your insurer about its criteria before surgery; coverage is not assured.
Can the scars be hidden completely?
No. Placement may make them less noticeable in some positions, but arm and side-chest scars can show with certain clothing and movements.
Should I wait until I finish losing weight?
A stable weight is usually preferred because further weight loss can create more loose skin. Your surgeon can help determine appropriate timing and assess nutrition.
Does it treat loose forearm skin?
An extended brachioplasty usually refers to upper-arm treatment extended onto the side chest, not down the forearm. Discuss forearm concerns separately rather than assuming they are included.
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Prepare for your consultation
Bring these to help your consultation:
- Confirm the treatment boundaries, scar plan, and whether liposuction is included.
- Get an individualized preparation, activity, and follow-up plan.
- Review the written estimate and arrange transportation and home support.
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Sources
- [1]American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Arm LiftArm-lift goals, candidate considerations, incision planning, liposuction use, recovery, lasting scars, variable results, and surgical risks including bleeding, infection, nerve injury, lymphatic injury, and blood clots.
- [2]Cleveland Clinic — Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)Arm-lift approaches including extended treatment of side-chest tissue, limits of exercise and nonsurgical correction, and general work and activity recovery considerations.
Photographs are illustrative scenes, not patients, staff, facilities or outcomes. This information does not replace a personal assessment by your treating clinician.