How Much Does an Arm Lift Cost?

The average cost of an arm lift (brachioplasty) is $9,576, according to 94 patient reviews that include cost information. Upper arm lift prices in the U.S. range from just $5,000 for a mini arm lift to as much as $24,000 for a more complex procedure.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that the average cost of an arm lift is $4,861, but they note their number “is only part of the total price – it does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.” All of these additional costs can add thousands to your final bill, so it’s important to factor them into your budget up-front.

Read on to learn more about:

• what to look for in a personalized price quote
• why brachioplasty procedure prices vary
• whether patients think their results are worth the money
• why health insurance might cover it

Related: Everything You Need to Know About an Arm Lift

What your total cost includes

During your initial consultation, your prospective plastic surgeon will discuss your goals and recommend a personalized treatment plan. This is the best time to request total cost quote (in writing), with all of these line items:

• The consultation fee, which may be applied to the cost of your procedure
• The surgeon’s fee
• Facility fees, which typically cover surgical supplies
• Anesthesia fees
• All aftercare and follow-up visits

Ask if you’ll need to budget for pre-op medical tests, compression sleeves, pain medication, bandages, scar treatments, or any other recovery supplies.

RealSelf Tip: The consultation is a good time to ask about the surgeon’s policy on the cost of revision surgery or other corrective treatments, if you’re not satisfied with your results or arm lift scars.

Some providers waive revision surgery fees if you’ve had a complication or an obviously poor aesthetic result, but you may need to cover a significant portion of the expense out of pocket.

Mitigating the need for costly revision surgery is a great reason to choose an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, who will be more likely to give you good results and support you through your recovery.

Why do arm lift surgery costs vary?

Your upper arm lift price will depend on these factors.

1) The complexity of your procedure

Arm lift surgery can take one to three hours, depending on its level of complexity and the surgeon’s technique. 

Some surgeons offer a “mini arm lift” or "invisible arm lift." This procedure usually involves a small, horizontal incision just above the armpit, to tighten loose skin, possibly with some arm liposuction to remove exercise-resistant fat deposits. This relatively quick, less invasive option works best for people with minimal amounts of excess fat and skin laxity, with reasonably good elasticity.

A traditional arm lift involves an incision along the underside of the arm, from armpit to elbow. If it’s paired with liposuction or another procedure, your procedure time and cost will both go up.

Patients who have a lot of excess skin, particularly after extreme weight loss, often pair an arm lift and lipo with other surgical body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, breast lift, breast augmentation, thigh lift, or even a facelift, to ensure the results look proportional to the rest of the body.

Adding to the time and complexity of your procedure will inflate your bill, but some plastic surgeons offer a discount on each additional procedure.

You'll also save by only incurring the facility and general anesthesia fees once, compared to what you'd spend if you had each procedure separately.

2) Your surgeon’s credentials and level of expertise

Board-certified plastic surgeons with years or decades of experience and arm lift expertise usually charge a higher surgeon's fee for their level of skill.

It's tempting to choose the surgeon who gives you the lowest price quote, but this can be a risky proposition.

“Do not elect to have arm lift surgery with the lowest priced and often least experienced plastic surgeon. Be prepared to pay a little more for an experienced arm lift plastic surgeon,” advises Dr. Timothy Katzen, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. “By paying more, you may minimize your risks of complications and expensive revision surgeries.”

When choosing your plastic surgeon, have a personal consultation with at least two qualified doctors who specialize in arm lift procedures. This is the best way to confirm that you're a good candidate for this procedure, get their recommendations on the best treatment plan, and compare personalized quotes.

Many surgeons offer complimentary consultations or apply the consult fee to the cost of your procedure.

3) Where your procedure is performed

The cost of an arm lift surgery is generally higher in major metros, like New York or Los Angeles, simply because surgeons who practice there have more overhead (including rent and staff salaries). 

If you're looking to save money on this procedure in a major city, you may find that providers with more modest practices in less-desirable neighborhoods can offer more reasonable rates.

Another factor in how much you'll pay: the type of surgical facility where your procedure is performed. Usually, facility fees (and sometimes even the fees for surgical supplies) are lower for private surgical centers than hospital operating rooms. 

4) Who administers your anesthesia

Arm lift surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, but it can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation, particularly if your procedure isn't too long or complex. This may be a lower-cost option, if it can be administered by your surgeon or a member of their staff.

General anesthesia must be administered by a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist (MD), who monitors the patient's vital signs throughout their procedure. 

CRNAs charge a lower fee for their services than an anesthesiologist (who has more advanced training), but some plastic surgeons prefer the expertise of an MD, particularly for high-risk patients who have medical issues like diabetes.

You can also expect to pay anesthesia fees for supplies, so make sure they're included in your cost estimate for this surgical procedure.

5) Any post-operative supplies.

As we mentioned above, ask your provider during your consultation if you'll need to purchase any post-op supplies, such as compression garments (to minimize swelling), or prescription medications.

Is arm lift surgery worth the money?

Arm lift surgery has a 90% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so a solid majority say their results are worth what they paid.

An arm lift removes the extra skin and fat (often called "bat wings") from the upper arm area, eliminating hanging tissue to give the arms a more toned appearance. This outpatient procedure can deliver a level of skin tightening that isn't possible through diet and exercise, or even liposuction, alone.

Reviewers who say this cosmetic surgery was "Worth It" often point to results that boosted their self-confidence and made them feel less self-conscious. Holymolley called it "the best decision I ever made," while Kind8741, who combined her arm lift with a breast lift and liposuction, said that it made her feel "beautiful once again." 

Those who rated their arm lift surgery "Not Worth It" were disappointed in their results. Some say it left their arm skin looking worse than before, with side effects like scars, underarm puckering, and lumpiness. Others experienced complications during recovery.

A key difference between happy and unhappy patients was the surgeon’s experience (or lack thereof), underscoring the importance of finding a well-reviewed, board-certified plastic surgeon who frequently performs arm lift procedures.

Will insurance pay for an arm lift?

In most cases, health insurance won't cover arm lift surgery because it’s considered an elective cosmetic procedure. 

One possible exception to this rule is patients who have a significant amount of loose, sagging skin that's limiting arm movement or causing a documented medical problem, like a skin rash that won't respond to other treatment options (like topical creams).

If you think you might qualify, talk with your insurance provider about what kind of medical documentation you'll need to show that you meet their specific criteria. Your surgeon's staff should be able to submit this as part of a request for insurance preauthorization. 

If the out-of-pocket cost is a burden, ask your surgeon's staff whether they offer specials, monthly payment plans, or accept plastic surgery financing options.

Arm lift costs in U.S. states

Browse average arm lift costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Arm lift costs in major U.S. metros

Average costs according to patient-reported data. As of July 2023, the cheapest metro area in the U.S. to get an arm lift is Milwaukee, WI, while people tend to pay the most in Denver, CO. Cities not listed did not have enough data to include.