Explore arm lift (brachioplasty) costs, insurance coverage, and financing options, including monthly payment plans to help manage out-of-pocket surgery expenses.
Last updated October 2026
Arm lift surgery, also called brachioplasty, removes excess skin from the upper arms, often after significant weight loss. The procedure is generally considered cosmetic and is usually paid for out of pocket, which is why many people look into arm lift financing.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports 2024 surgeon fees of approximately $6,000 to $10,500 for an upper arm lift. That amount does not include anesthesia, surgical facility charges, or other expenses, so the total cost may be higher. Unlike liposuction, which primarily removes fat, brachioplasty addresses loose skin and may be combined with fat removal when appropriate.
Before comparing arm lift financing options, it can help to request a complete written quote and check whether your health plan offers any coverage for medically necessary skin removal.
Short Answer
An arm lift typically costs more than the surgeon’s fee alone. ASPS reports upper arm lift surgeon fees of approximately $6,000 to $10,500 for 2024, excluding anesthesia, facility charges, and other expenses. Insurance generally does not cover cosmetic brachioplasty, although some plans may consider coverage when excess skin causes documented medical or functional problems.
Sources: ASPS 2024 cosmetic procedure cost data and the Aetna and Anthem medical policies cited below.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports 2024 surgeon fees of approximately $6,000 to $10,500 for an upper arm lift. This amount covers the surgeon’s fee, not the complete cost of surgery, and the ASPS cost page notes that anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other related expenses are not included. Your total surgical quote will generally be higher once those charges are added.
The worksheet below lists charges to discuss with your surgeon. Except for the ASPS surgeon-fee range, the figures are estimates published by a single California practice. They are examples of possible charges, not nationally representative prices, and should not be added together to calculate a typical total.
| Cost Item | Published Example Amount | Is It in Your Quote? |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon’s fee | $6,000–$10,500 (ASPS 2024 surgeon-fee data; excludes other charges) | Confirm what the fee covers |
| Anesthesia | $800–$1,500 | Ask who provides it and whether it is billed separately; amounts depend on operating time |
| Operating room or facility | $1,000–$2,500 | Ask whether surgery is in a hospital or surgery center; location and operating time affect this charge |
| Consultation | $200–$500 | Ask whether the fee is credited toward surgery and whether that credit is refundable |
| Preoperative lab work | $300–$800 | Confirm which tests are required and whether they are included or billed separately |
| Prescriptions | $50–$150 | Ask which medications are expected and whether they are included |
| Compression garments | $75–$200 each | Confirm whether garments are included, how many are recommended, and whether replacements cost extra |
| Follow-up care | Varies by practice | Ask which routine visits are included and whether extra appointments are charged |
| Additional treatment | Varies by practice | Ask about charges for wound care, complications, or future revision surgery |
The surgeon-fee range comes from ASPS 2024 data. Other figures are examples published by Esthetica Orange County in December 2025 and may not reflect prices in your area. Do not add these ranges together to estimate a national average.
One New Jersey plastic surgery practice, Plastic Surgery Group of New Jersey, publishes estimated total costs of $10,000 to $15,000 or more for the New Jersey and New York City area. This illustrates geographic variation but should not be treated as a national price range. When you compare practices, compare the same procedure and included services; a lower headline price may exclude fees that another surgeon’s quote includes.
It can. The extent of excess skin and the surgical technique can affect operating time and the total price. A mini arm lift uses a shorter incision near the armpit and may be appropriate when excess skin is limited to the uppermost arm; because it generally treats a smaller area, it may cost less than a more extensive procedure. A traditional arm lift addresses a larger portion of the upper arm, although incision placement and length vary, while an extended arm lift may continue beyond the armpit toward the chest wall when loose skin involves both areas.
More extensive surgery may increase surgeon, anesthesia, and facility charges, but actual prices depend on the surgeon and surgical plan. If your surgeon recommends adding liposuction, ask whether it is included in the quote or billed as an additional procedure.
Health insurance generally does not cover brachioplasty performed solely to improve appearance. Some plans may consider excess skin removal medically necessary when it addresses significant functional problems or persistent medical conditions.
Coverage policies differ. Aetna’s cosmetic surgery policy, last reviewed in June 2026, classifies excision of excess arm skin, including brachioplasty, as cosmetic. Anthem’s clinical policy ANC.00009, last reviewed in August 2026, describes when brachioplasty may be considered medically necessary: a significant functional impairment, such as redundant skin that interferes with daily activities or causes persistent dermatitis, cellulitis, or skin ulcers, that continues despite optimal medical management and is reasonably expected to improve with surgery.
These policies do not guarantee coverage under every plan, and a procedure that meets a policy’s clinical criteria may still be excluded under a particular plan’s benefit terms. Ask your insurer whether arm skin removal is an included benefit, what criteria apply, and whether prior authorization is required. If it is, get the insurer’s decision before surgery; authorization does not guarantee final claim payment.
If you have recurrent rashes, infections, skin breakdown, or limits on daily activities, ask your healthcare professional to document the symptoms, the treatments you tried, and their results. If part of the surgery is medically necessary and additional contouring is elective, ask for an itemized estimate showing which services may be covered and which are self-pay. If coverage is denied, review the written reason and your appeal options before deciding to pay the full self-pay price.
The ASPS notes that coverage for complications after cosmetic surgery can also be limited, so ask your insurer how your plan handles medically necessary treatment of postoperative complications.
Surgeons generally prefer patients to be at a relatively stable weight before brachioplasty. The ASPS lists stable weight, overall health, and not smoking among the factors that make someone a good candidate. Continued weight loss after surgery can change the contour of the arms and may create additional loose skin, which could affect the long-term result.
If you are still losing weight after bariatric surgery or while using prescription weight-loss medication, discuss timing with your plastic surgeon. The right timing depends on your health, how your weight is changing, and your goals.
Some patients consider an arm lift alongside other body contouring, such as a tummy tuck or body lift. Combining operations may reduce certain duplicated expenses, but it can also increase operating time, recovery demands, and surgical risk. Ask whether combining or staging is safer for you, whether staged surgeries would each carry separate facility and anesthesia charges, and request written estimates for both approaches before arranging financing.
Because brachioplasty is usually a self-pay procedure, your surgical practice may require a deposit or full payment before surgery. Once you have a complete written estimate, you may be able to use more than one of these options, depending on eligibility and practice policies.
Savings or direct payment. Paying from savings avoids borrowing costs. You can ask whether the practice offers a discount for paying in full, while keeping enough set aside for emergencies and recovery expenses.
HSA or FSA funds. IRS Publication 502 excludes cosmetic surgery, defined as a procedure aimed at improving appearance that does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. An arm lift performed solely for cosmetic reasons generally is not an eligible expense. Surgery that treats a qualifying medical condition may be eligible; tax eligibility is separate from insurance approval, so confirm with your account administrator and keep documentation of medical necessity.
Personal loan. A personal loan may provide fixed monthly payments over a set term. Compare APRs, origination fees, funding timelines, and total repayment before accepting an offer.
Medical credit card. Some cards offer promotional financing. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that with deferred interest, interest can be charged back to the original purchase date if the full balance is not paid by the deadline, so check whether an offer is a true 0% APR.
Practice payment plan. Some surgical practices offer installment arrangements. Ask about deposits, payment deadlines, fees, and whether the balance must be paid before surgery.
Before financing, review the practice’s cancellation and refund policies, including whether deposits are refundable. If surgery is postponed or canceled after a loan is funded, you may still owe payments until any refund is processed and applied to your account.
For a $9,000 loan at 13% APR, extending repayment from 24 to 36 months lowers the estimated monthly payment by about $125 but increases the total repaid by approximately $648. Borrowing less or choosing a shorter term can reduce interest costs, as long as the monthly payment stays manageable.
| Amount Financed | Monthly Payment (24 Months) | Total Repaid (24 Months) | Monthly Payment (36 Months) | Total Repaid (36 Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $6,000 | $285 | $6,846 | $202 | $7,278 |
| $9,000 | $428 | $10,269 | $303 | $10,917 |
| $12,000 | $571 | $13,692 | $404 | $14,556 |
| $15,000 | $713 | $17,115 | $505 | $18,195 |
Examples assume a fixed 13% APR, no additional fees, and repayment over 24 or 36 months. These are hypothetical calculations, not loan offers. Actual APRs, fees, and terms depend on the lender and your credit profile. Monthly payments are rounded; totals use the unrounded payment.
Brachioplasty leaves a surgical scar on the upper arm, and its length and location depend on the technique used and the amount of skin removed. Potential risks listed by the ASPS include bleeding, infection, fluid buildup (seroma), poor wound healing, unfavorable scarring, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, and persistent pain. Less common complications can include damage to deeper structures such as nerves or blood vessels, fat necrosis, and the need for revision surgery.
After surgery, your surgeon may recommend compression garments and, in some cases, a temporary drain. Recovery varies, so ask when you can return to work, drive, exercise, and lift objects, especially if your job is physically demanding.
Ask which postoperative visits are included in the original price and whether complications or revisions could create additional charges. Coverage for treatment of complications after cosmetic surgery varies by plan, so ask your insurer how unexpected postoperative care would be billed, and include any unpaid time off work and help at home in your budget.
The ASPS reports surgeon fees of approximately $6,000 to $10,500 for an upper arm lift. That figure is the surgeon’s fee only; anesthesia, facility charges, lab work, and recovery supplies are billed in addition, so ask for an all-inclusive quote.
A mini arm lift may cost less because it treats a smaller area, but pricing depends on the surgeon, facility, and procedure. Compare complete quotes rather than assuming it will always be the least expensive option.
Liposuction removes fat but does not remove excess skin. When loose skin is the main concern, an arm lift may be more appropriate. Your surgeon can explain whether either procedure, or a combination, suits your goals.
Weight loss alone does not establish medical necessity. Some plans may consider coverage when excess arm skin causes documented functional impairment or persistent medical problems that meet the plan’s criteria, as Anthem’s policy ANC.00009 describes.
Generally not for a cosmetic arm lift. If the surgery treats a qualifying medical condition, it may be eligible; confirm with your account administrator and keep documentation of medical necessity.
Some people combine an arm lift with a body lift, tummy tuck, or liposuction. Combining can reduce some duplicated fees but may increase operating time and surgical risk, so ask your surgeon whether combining or staging is safer and compare quotes for both.
Practices often ask for a deposit or full payment before surgery for self-pay procedures. Confirm the due date and whether deposits are refundable so you can line up financing in time.
Some promotional plans offer 0% APR for a set period, while others use deferred interest. Personal loans usually charge interest from the start, so compare the total repayment amount for each option.
Some lenders consider applicants with lower credit scores, but approval is not guaranteed and borrowing costs may be higher. Compare APRs, fees, and total repayment before accepting an offer.
Arm lift surgery is usually paid for out of pocket, and the surgeon’s fee is only part of the total expense. Before scheduling brachioplasty, request an itemized quote covering anesthesia, facility charges, recovery supplies, and follow-up care.
If excess skin causes medical or functional problems, check your insurance policy before assuming the procedure is excluded. Your surgeon can also help determine whether your weight is stable and whether combining an arm lift with other procedures is appropriate.
If you are considering arm lift financing, compare APRs, fees, monthly payments, and total repayment costs, and account for time away from work and possible recovery expenses before deciding how much to borrow.
Are you a plastic surgery practice? See how to offer your patients monthly payment options.
Disclosure: FigCare Pay is not a lender, broker, or credit decision-maker. When you select “View My Offers,” you are redirected to an independent third-party loan marketplace where lenders determine all rates, terms, and approvals; FigCare Pay may receive referral compensation. Prequalification uses a soft credit check with no credit impact, though completing an official loan application may require a hard inquiry. Prequalification does not guarantee approval or the timing of funds. Cost figures shown are averages or provider-specific estimates that may change and are not a quote. Coverage and HSA/FSA information is general and depends on your plan. This page is general information only and is not medical, financial, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Candidacy for an arm lift is determined by a licensed surgeon.
YOUR ESTIMATE
MONTHLY PAYMENT
FigCare Pay supports healthcare businesses through two powerful financing approaches.
Make the cost of healthcare easier to manage with financing options that let you pay over time instead of covering the full cost upfront.
Receive funding directly while your patients manage their payments over time.
Compare financing and payment options for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, including breast surgery, facial enhancements, body contouring, and other surgical treatments.
