Arm Lift Cost

Typical costs:

• An arm lift -- or brachioplasty -- typically costs between $5,000 and $11,000, depending on the patient and the amount of fat and skin that need to be removed. For example, at the Institute of Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery^[1] in California, an arm lift costs about $5,000 to $6,000. At Youthful Images^[2] in Connecticut, it costs $6,000 to $8,000. And at the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre^[3] in California, it costs between $8,000 and $10,500, depending on the patient.
• An arm lift is considered a cosmetic procedure, so it typically is not covered by health insurance.

• In an initial consultation, the surgeon will discuss patient goals, examine the arms and discuss the arm lift technique most appropriate for the patient, as well as risks and cost.
• For the arm lift, the patient typically is put under general anesthesia, but some doctors use 'twilight' anesthesia. Then the surgeon makes an incision that might be confined to the armpit or extend further down the arm, depending on the amount of excess fat and tissue. Then the doctor either excises or uses liposuction to remove unwanted fat, then trims and re-drapes the remaining skin before closing the incision. Drainage tubes will then be placed in the arms. An arm lift usually takes two to four hours and is done as an outpatient procedure. A board-certified plastic surgeon^[4] in New York provides an overview of arm lift procedures.
• During follow-up visits, the doctor will remove drainage tubes, check the progress of healing and discuss recommended diet and exercise. It can take three months to see full results.

• The doctor might prescribe antibiotics and pain medication after surgery.
• To aid healing, you will need to wear compression sleeves or a compression top^[5] that can cost $50 to $100.
• Recovery usually requires three to seven days off work.

• Most plastic surgeons offer discounts for multiple procedures. An arm lift sometimes is performed with a breast lift or lower body lift.

• Good candidates for arm lift surgery are healthy non-smokers who are close to their ideal weight and for whom diet and exercise have not worked.
• Tip: Make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has privileges at an accredited hospital, even if the surgery is not taking place there. Both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons^[6] and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery^[7] offer referral services. Also ask how much experience the surgeon has performing arm lifts, and look at before-and-after photographs of previous patients.
• Risks^[8] include bleeding, infection, scarring, blood clots, numbness, damage to blood vessels or other structures, deep vein thrombosis, heart or lung complications and anesthesia complications, including death. The procedure might not be recommended for patients who have had a mastectomy or certain other types of surgery involving the lymph nodes in the arm pits or who have excess sweating or have had infections in sweat glands.

1.  www.cosmeticinstitute.org/procedures/contour-arm/
2.  www.youthfulimages.com/pricing_menu.htm
3.  www.ljcsc.com/ballpark-plastic-surgery-costs
4.  www.kolkermd.com/newyorkplasticsurgeon/armliftnyc.htm
5.  www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product/arm_procedure/index.vm?procid=36
6.  www1.plasticsurgery.org/find_a_surgeon/
7.  www.surgery.org/consumers/find-a-plastic-surgeon
8.  www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift.html

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does an Albuterol Inhaler Cost?		How Much Does an MRI Cost?		How Much Does Radiation Therapy Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

The hot summer weather has started. How much does central air conditioning cost? We give our advice on where to buy Purell and hand sanitizers. Looking for an indoor pet? Usage of streaming services is skyrocketing. We list the current deals. Staying cool during the summer also means on the road. We cover the cost of car air conditioning.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Replace Toilet Wax Ring (DIY) Paid: 25.00 Cost could have been cheaper, but previous owners hired a plumber and contractor who didn't do the job right. So we ran into problems. The first wax ring didn't work, so we had to buy the old fashioned type... [more] -JT Holm Toilet Repair Cost Plumbing totourial Paid: 0.00 I am appalled by some of these charges myself and yes plumbers have a hard,disgusting and exhausting job and it’s not for everyone... [more] -Caleb Domec Plumber Cost Ischemic stroke Paid: 89000.00 I had a CT scan, they called helicopter to transfer to trauma hospital in Atlanta, but neurosurgeon there said the stroke is is I n a deep area, and would be too dangerously to remove the clot surgically... [more] -Marie-Jose Stroke Treatment Cost Connective tissue graft Paid: 1300.00 Had to get a connective tissue graft for three of my teeth on my lower left and likely will need a few more done down the road (genetics). The procedure took about an hour and was pain-free... [more] - Gum Tissue Graft Cost Alaska propane pricing 2020 Paid: 130.71 No contract price is $3.87 x 32.8 gallons + $3.81 fee = delivered remote Cooper Landing Alaska. New contract renewal $1.91/gallon for delivery plus propane cost which I need to check on... [more] -Keith Mantey Propane Cost Funeral Paid: 160.00 Can somebody contact me... [more] -Terrance Samuel Releasing Doves Cost