5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Body Contouring
Arm lift in Turkey
A guide to an arm lift (brachioplasty) in Turkey: who needs it, mini or full arm lift, approximate cost compared with the UK, the US and Germany, arm lift or liposuction, how the operation is done, where the scar lies, recovery, flying home and the risks reported in published studies.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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Verified surgeons for Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
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Arm lift in Turkey: who it is for
An arm lift — brachioplasty — removes loose skin and some fat from the back of the upper arms, the area people often call "bingo wings", and tightens the skin that remains. It suits people whose upper-arm skin hangs when they lift their arms, usually after a large weight loss, and some people whose skin has loosened with age. It does not build muscle and is not a fat-removal operation on its own.
Brachioplasty is one of the body-contouring operations. For the general guide to having body surgery in Turkey — choosing a hospital, what packages include, payment and the trip — see the tummy tuck in Turkey guide; this page covers what is specific to the arms. If your arms hold fat but the skin is still firm, upper arm liposuction may be enough (general liposuction starts from €1,500).
The central decision is the scar. A full arm lift leaves a long scar on the inner arm; the surgeon's job is to place it where it is least visible and to tell you honestly whether the change is worth it for your arms.
Types of arm lift
Which brachioplasty you need depends on how much skin is loose and where. The surgeon decides from photos of your arms raised to the side, from the front and from behind.
| Type | Who it is for | Where the scar lies |
|---|---|---|
| Mini arm lift | Mild looseness close to the armpit | Short scar hidden in the armpit |
| Full (standard) arm lift | Loose skin from the armpit to the elbow | Along the inner or back of the upper arm, from armpit to elbow |
| Extended arm lift | Loose skin that continues onto the side of the chest, typically after major weight loss | Inner arm, through the armpit and down the side of the chest |
| Arm lift with liposuction | Loose skin together with fat in the arms | As above; liposuction is done first or in the same session |
A mini arm lift gives a small scar but only tightens skin near the armpit. When skin hangs down to the elbow, only a full arm lift removes it. Be cautious if a clinic promises the effect of a full lift with an armpit-only scar.
How much does an arm lift cost in Turkey?
None of the hospitals on our site has published a fixed arm lift price yet, because the extent varies a lot from patient to patient. The figures below are approximate, confirmed in a written quote after the surgeon has seen your photos.
| Country | Approximate price of a full arm lift | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €2,500–€4,500 | Hospital package for international patients: surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital night, tests, compression garment, transfers; hotel nights often included |
| United Kingdom | about £5,000–£8,000 | Private hospital; consultations and follow-up sometimes extra |
| United States | about $7,000–$12,000 | Surgeon's fee alone averages around $5,500 in American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics; anaesthesia and facility fees are billed on top |
| Germany | about €4,500–€8,000 | Surgeon, anaesthesia and hospital stay |
What changes the arm lift cost in Turkey:
- Extent: a mini arm lift is shorter and cheaper than a full or extended lift onto the chest.
- Liposuction: adding liposuction of the arms or armpit adds operating time.
- Combination: many patients combine it with a breast lift, a thigh lift or a tummy tuck, which saves a trip but not the cost of each operation.
At the hospitals on our site you pay the hospital directly on arrival, with no pre-payment; the quote is free. Package contents and payment are explained on the tummy tuck page.
Arm lift vs liposuction for bingo wings
Both are offered for bingo wings, but they fix different problems.
| Question | Upper arm liposuction | Arm lift (brachioplasty) |
|---|---|---|
| What it removes | Fat | Loose skin (and some fat) |
| Suits | Full arms with skin that is still elastic | Skin that hangs or swings when you lift your arm |
| Scar | Two or three small puncture scars | A long scar on the inner arm |
| Recovery | Desk work after a few days | Desk work after about one to two weeks |
| Risk if chosen wrongly | On loose skin it can leave the arm looser | On firm skin the scar is not worth the small gain |
Exercise strengthens the triceps but does not tighten loose skin. Skin-tightening devices can help a little in mild cases; they do not remove hanging skin.
Are you a good candidate for an arm lift?
You are usually a good candidate if your weight has been stable for at least six months and is close to your goal, you are in good general health, you do not smoke or can stop for several weeks around surgery, and you prefer a scar on the inner arm to loose skin.
After weight loss surgery most surgeons wait 12–18 months, until weight has settled, and check iron, protein and vitamin levels, because deficiencies slow wound healing. If several areas are affected, a post-bariatric plastic surgery plan decides the order of operations.
Who should wait: anyone still losing weight, people with uncontrolled diabetes, lymphoedema of the arm or previous lymph-node surgery in the armpit (after breast cancer, for example — this needs a specialist opinion), and smokers who cannot stop.
How an arm lift is performed
An arm lift takes about one and a half to three hours under general anaesthesia, depending on the extent and whether liposuction is added.
- Marking: the skin to be removed is marked with your arms raised, and the scar line is agreed with you — on the inner arm, where it is seen least when the arms are down, or slightly towards the back.
- Liposuction (if planned): fat is suctioned first, which protects nerves and lymph vessels.
- Removing skin: the excess skin is removed along the markings; in the armpit the scar is often broken into a zigzag so it does not tighten when you lift your arm.
- Closure: the wound is closed in layers, sometimes with a thin drain for a day.
Most patients stay one night in hospital; a compression sleeve or garment is fitted in the theatre.
Arm lift scar: what to expect
The arm lift scar runs from the armpit towards the elbow. It is not visible when your arms hang at your sides, but it shows when you raise your arms or wear sleeveless tops. Scars on the arm tend to stay red longer and can widen more than scars elsewhere, because the skin moves a lot.
Scars fade over 12–18 months. Silicone gel or sheets, sun protection, avoiding heavy lifting and not smoking help. Ask your surgeon for photos of healed arm lift scars on patients with skin like yours — not only photos of the shape.
Your arm lift in Turkey: the trip and recovery
Plan 5–7 days in Turkey: consultation and tests, surgery, one night in hospital, hotel recovery and a wound check before you fly. The general day-by-day trip is described in the tummy tuck guide; arm lift recovery runs like this:
- Week 1: the arms are sore and swollen; keep them slightly raised on pillows and avoid lifting them above shoulder height. Walking from the first day. Showering is usually allowed after 48 hours.
- Week 2: most people return to desk work after one to two weeks. No lifting anything heavier than a kettle.
- Weeks 3–6: compression sleeves for about four to six weeks; light exercise from about four weeks; no weights or upper-body training until the surgeon allows it, usually after six weeks.
- Months 3–12: swelling settles and the scar matures.
Swelling of the hands and forearms in the first weeks is common and settles with raising the arms and gentle hand movements.
Flying home after an arm lift
Most surgeons allow flying after about 5–7 days, once the wounds have been checked. Do not lift your suitcase into the overhead locker — ask for help or check it in. Wear your compression sleeves, walk in the aisle, drink water and avoid alcohol. Increasing pain, redness or fluid from the wound needs a call to the hospital; see also flying after surgery.
Risks of an arm lift: what studies show
Brachioplasty is a safe operation for healthy patients in a proper hospital, but minor complications are common. Reviews of published series in plastic surgery journals report complications in roughly a quarter to two fifths of patients, most of them minor and treated without another operation. The main risks are:
- Scar problems: wide, raised or red scars are the most frequent complaint.
- Wound separation and seroma: small openings or fluid under the skin, treated with dressings or a needle.
- Nerve injury: numbness or tingling on the inner forearm if a skin nerve (the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve) is injured; usually temporary, occasionally permanent.
- Lymphoedema: swelling of the forearm or hand, usually temporary.
- Infection, bleeding and the general risks of anaesthesia.
Smoking and a high BMI raise the risk of wound problems. Choose a plastic surgeon who does body contouring routinely and a licensed hospital — see how to choose a safe surgeon in Turkey — and remember that normal travel insurance does not cover planned surgery (insurance for cosmetic surgery abroad).
Arm lift results
A good arm lift gives smoother, slimmer upper arms that no longer swing, and sleeves fit better. The result is lasting as long as your weight stays stable. Judge it after about a year, when swelling has gone and the scar has faded. Many patients combine it with a thigh lift or a body lift; see the full body contouring range.
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Approximately €2,500–€4,500 for a full arm lift as a hospital package for international patients, depending on the extent and whether liposuction is added. Your exact price is written on your quote after the surgeon has reviewed your photos.
A private arm lift in the UK usually costs about £5,000–£8,000, more for an extended lift or in central London. Check whether consultations and aftercare are included.
Brachioplasty is the medical name for an arm lift: an operation that removes loose skin and some fat from the upper arms and tightens the remaining skin.
It depends on the skin. If the skin is still elastic and the arm is full of fat, liposuction may be enough. If the skin hangs when you lift your arm, only an arm lift removes it. Exercise strengthens the muscle but does not tighten loose skin.
A mini arm lift removes a small amount of skin near the armpit through a scar hidden in the armpit. It suits mild looseness close to the armpit, not skin that hangs down to the elbow.
It runs from the armpit towards the elbow on the inner arm. It is hidden when your arms are down but shows when you raise them or wear sleeveless tops. It fades over 12–18 months but does not disappear.
Most people return to desk work after one to two weeks, wear compression sleeves for four to six weeks and return to weights after about six weeks. The scar matures over about a year.
Plan 5–7 days: consultation, surgery, one night in hospital, hotel recovery and a wound check before you fly.
Yes, usually 12–18 months after the operation, once your weight has been stable for at least six months and blood tests show no deficiencies that would slow healing.
Yes — often with liposuction, a breast lift, a thigh lift or a tummy tuck. Combining saves a trip, but long operations raise the risks, so the surgeon may plan two stages.
Patient stories