Body area
Arms
The loose skin under the upper arm is one of the most common complaints after major weight loss. What exercise and devices can and cannot change, and what an arm lift involves and costs.
What changes in the arms
The underside of the upper arm is one of the places skin is most likely to hang after a large loss. The skin there is thin, it carries fat that was stored for years, and when the fat goes the skin often folds down from the armpit towards the elbow. Surgeons grade it on the same kind of scale as other areas, from a mild change in contour to hanging skin that extends into the armpit and along the side of the chest. [1]
Two things are often mistaken for each other here. Some of what looks like loose skin is still a layer of fat, which will change with further loss or time. And some is muscle that has shrunk along with the fat, which strength training can rebuild. The loose skin or fat post explains the difference and the pinch test.
What exercise can and cannot do
Resistance training will not tighten skin, but it matters more for arms than almost anywhere else. The triceps sit directly under the loose skin, and a fuller, stronger muscle changes how the arm looks and how the skin sits over it. Protein supports that: in adults losing weight, the trial evidence supports more than 1.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day to protect muscle. [2]
What exercise cannot do is remove skin that is surplus. If the skin swings when you wave, it will still be there when your triceps are stronger.
Non-surgical options
For mild laxity, where the skin is loose but does not hang, RF microneedling is the best-studied non-surgical option, though its evidence comes mainly from general dermatology rather than post-weight-loss arms. [3] Surface radiofrequency is gentler with no downtime and a lower ceiling. Bio-stimulators can improve thin, crepey skin on the arms.
The honest limit is the same as everywhere: devices firm skin that is still elastic, and results are generally mild to moderate. If your arm skin hangs in a fold, the non-surgical limits post explains why a course of sessions is unlikely to be enough.
When an arm lift is the answer
A brachioplasty removes the loose skin from the underside of the arm, usually through an incision from the armpit towards the elbow. Where the excess continues into the armpit and down the side of the chest, an extended version is needed. The trade is a long scar on the inner arm in exchange for removing the skin. For many people that trade is clearly worth it, and for some it is not, which is a decision only you can make after seeing a surgeon.
It is often a day procedure. [5] The surgical options guide covers recovery, risks and how to choose a surgeon.
Medicare. Item 30169 covers removal of redundant skin from one or two areas other than the abdomen, such as the arms, after significant weight loss. The published criteria say the redundant skin must be causing functional problems, after a loss equivalent to at least five BMI points and at least six months of stable weight. [4] Whether they apply to you is for your surgeon to assess. The Medicare post explains the item and how private cover fits in.
What it costs in Australia
| Price | |
|---|---|
| RF microneedling, per session (planning range) | $900 to $2,000 |
| Arm lift, surgeon's fee, one surgeon | from $9,990 [5] |
| Arm lift, surgeon's fee, another surgeon | $11,990 to $19,990 [6] |
| Arm lift, total out-of-pocket with Medicare eligibility and cover, one surgeon | around $11,500 [5] |
| Arm lift, total uninsured, one surgeon | around $20,000 [5] |
The same operation costing around $11,500 or around $20,000 depending on cover is typical of skin removal surgery. The costs by procedure page has more published prices and explains what drives the difference.
Timing
Let your weight settle first, and give strength training a few months to do its part, because a fuller muscle changes how much skin there really is to deal with. If rubbing or rashes in the armpit are a problem now, see your GP about them rather than waiting.
Frequently asked questions
No, but it helps. Strength training rebuilds the triceps under the skin, which changes how the arm looks and how the skin sits. It does not remove surplus skin, and skin that hangs in a fold will still need surgery to remove it.
It may. Item 30169 covers removal of redundant non-abdominal skin after significant weight loss where the published criteria are met, including functional problems and at least six months of stable weight. Your surgeon assesses whether they apply.
Published surgeon's fees start around $9,990 and run to about $20,000 depending on the surgeon and the extent of the operation. One surgeon puts the total at around $11,500 out of pocket with Medicare eligibility and cover, and around $20,000 without.
Other areas
Sources cited
- Song AY, Jean RD, Hurwitz DJ, et al. A classification of contour deformities after bariatric weight loss: the Pittsburgh Rating Scale. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2005.
- Kokura Y, Ueshima J, Saino Y, Maeda K. Enhanced protein intake on maintaining muscle mass, strength, and physical function in adults with overweight/obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2024.
- Tan MG, Jo CE, Chapas A, Khetarpal S, Dover JS. Radiofrequency Microneedling: A Comprehensive and Critical Review. Dermatologic Surgery, 2021.
- Australian Government, MBS Online. Item 30169: removal of redundant non-abdominal skin and lipectomy, one or two areas. Checked 23 September 2026.
- Dr Bernard Beldholm, FRACS specialist surgeon, Maitland NSW. Brachioplasty (arm lift) cost. Checked 23 September 2026.
- Dr Mark Kohout, specialist plastic surgeon, Sydney and Orange NSW. Body surgery pricing. Checked 23 September 2026.
Written by
Dan d'Auvergne-Massie· Editor, Skin After Weight Loss
Lost 36kg on a GLP-1 protocol and spent the next two years researching what actually tightens skin after rapid weight loss. Works professionally in the peptide industry. Not a doctor: every clinical claim on this site is sourced.
Last updated by the editor: