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Arm lift (brachioplasty) · Istanbul & Izmir, Turkey
Arm lift in Istanbul and Izmir, Turkey, with liposuction included
An arm lift (brachioplasty) removes loose, sagging skin from the upper arm and tightens the tissue beneath it. JFS Clinic plans your arm lift in Istanbul or Izmir, Turkey; your package includes liposuction, one night in hospital and six in the hotel, with a package price from £3,250.
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Key facts
Arm lift in Turkey at a glance
Your price and your dates
Arm lift Turkey cost and available dates
Your arm lift package is listed from £3,250 and includes the liposuction, the hospital stay, the hotel nights and every transfer. Send two photos through and your coordinator will come back with a personal plan, your price and the dates your surgeon currently has open; most people are in Istanbul or Izmir within about a week, on dates that suit them.
Am I a candidate?
Who is a good candidate for an arm lift?
A good candidate has loose, hanging skin on the upper arm that has not responded to diet or exercise, a weight that has been stable for at least three to six months, and good general health. Diet and strength training can firm the muscle underneath, but they cannot tighten skin that has already lost its elasticity, whether from ageing, pregnancy or losing more than a stone or two — an arm lift is the treatment that removes the loose skin and reshapes what is left. At JFS Clinic, Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz first checks these points from two photos of your upper arms, one raised and one at rest, then again in person at the Day 2 consultation in Istanbul or Izmir, after your blood tests.
Loose skin after weight loss, why exercise cannot tighten it
Skin stretches to cover the volume underneath it, whether that volume is fat, muscle or both. Once it has been stretched for long enough — through ageing, significant weight changes or losing a large amount of body weight — the elastin fibres inside it do not spring back on their own, no matter how much muscle is built underneath. Strength training can firm the muscle of the upper arm, but it has no effect on skin that has already lost its elasticity; the loose fold at the back of the arm, sometimes called a "bat wing", stays roughly the same size whether the arm is flexed or at rest. Surgery is the only way to remove that excess skin and tighten what remains against the arm.
Signs an arm lift may suit you
- Loose, crepey or hanging skin on the back of the upper arm that stays the same even when the arm is fully extended.
- Skin that has not responded to diet or strength training, usually after losing a large amount of weight or as skin loses elasticity with age.
- Your weight has been stable for several months, since further weight changes can loosen the result again.
- You are a non-smoker, or able to stop smoking well before and after surgery — smoking slows healing along the incision.
- You are in good general health, without a condition that would make general anaesthesia risky for you.
| Mini arm lift | Full arm lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Loose skin location | Near the armpit only | Full length, armpit to elbow |
| Skin laxity | Limited | More pronounced, often after major weight loss |
| Scar length | Short, hidden in the armpit | Runs along the inner arm |
| Liposuction | Sometimes added | Often combined in the same operation |
| Typical candidate | Small area of looseness near the armpit | Sagging skin along the whole upper arm |
What to discuss at your arm lift consultation
- How much excess skin needs removing, and whether a mini or full incision fits your arms.
- Whether liposuction should be added to contour fat along the whole arm, not just the loose skin.
- Where your final scar will sit on the inner arm, and how it is likely to heal given your skin tone.
- Any visible tattoos near the inner upper arm, and how the incision line is planned around them.
- Your full medical history, including any previous arm or shoulder surgery.
This is general guidance, not a diagnosis. The final call is always your surgeon's, made after reviewing your photos and health history.
Not every arm lift is the same
Types of arm lift, mini, standard and extended brachioplasty
There are three main types of arm lift — a mini, with a short 5-8cm incision hidden in the armpit; a full (standard) brachioplasty, with an incision running the roughly 20-25cm from armpit to elbow; and an extended version that continues onto the chest wall — plus liposuction alone or combined with any of them. Your surgeon chooses between them based on how much skin needs removing and where it has stretched. At JFS Clinic that choice is suggested from your photos before you travel, then confirmed with skin markings at the Day 2 consultation, and liposuction with the arm lift is part of the package.
- 1Incision along the inner arm, armpit toward the elbow
- 2Excess skin removed
- 3Underlying tissue tightened
- 4Incision closed along the natural arm line
How an arm lift is done
| Technique | Best for | Incision | Fat removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liposuction only | Good skin elasticity, little to no excess skin | Small, hidden cannula entry points | Yes, no skin removed |
| Mini arm lift | A small pocket of loose skin near the armpit | Short, hidden in the armpit | Sometimes combined |
| Full arm liftMost common | Loose skin running the length of the upper arm | Inner arm, from the armpit toward the elbow | Often combined with liposuction |
| Extended arm lift | Skin excess that continues onto the side of the chest | Inner arm, extending onto the chest wall | Often combined |
| Arm lift with liposuction | Patients who also want the whole arm contoured, not just the loose skin removed | Same as the chosen technique above | Yes, combined with the lift |
Scar length and placement depend on how much skin your surgeon needs to remove — the exact line is marked with you before surgery.
Mini vs full arm lift, how your surgeon decides
The choice is not about what you ask for, it is about what your skin shows at the consultation. Your surgeon pinches the loose skin from the armpit down toward the elbow, checks how far the looseness extends and whether it continues onto the side of the chest. A small pocket of excess skin near the armpit usually points to a mini technique; skin that hangs the full length of the upper arm, especially after a large amount of weight loss, points to a full or extended arm lift.
Liposuction is often added rather than chosen instead — it contours fat across the whole arm that a lift alone does not remove, since liposuction removes fat while an arm lift removes skin and tightens the tissue underneath. Many patients end up with a combined operation once their surgeon has assessed both the skin and the fat layer together.
The excess skin itself is measured in centimetres along the inner arm, usually with a pinch test with the arm raised to shoulder height, which shows how the skin will sit once it is tightened. A smaller fold confined near the armpit is what typically keeps a mini technique on the table; a longer fold that runs most of the way to the elbow is what moves the plan toward a full or extended repair. The same assessment also shapes how much time your surgeon books in theatre, since a longer incision and more tissue to tighten takes longer than a short one.
Why patients come back
The clip below is from Tülin's check-up a week after her thigh lift, not an arm lift — but she is a returning patient who, in the video further down this page, talks about considering an arm lift for her next visit.
It's been a week now and I'm very happy, really happy — everything is going well. I've come for my check-up with Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz, and the results are incredible.
How soon
How soon can you have an arm lift in Turkey?
Most JFS patients are in Istanbul or Izmir for their arm lift within about a week of their first message. There's no waiting list to join, and the dates are yours to choose.
- 1
Send two photos
Message us on WhatsApp or use the form, with two photos of your upper arms, one with the arm raised and one at rest, and a few lines about your health, medication and any previous operations.
- 2
Get your personal plan
Your coordinator passes them to Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz, who reviews whether a mini, full or extended technique looks right, free of charge, and sends back your package price with the dates he has open.
- 3
Choose your dates
You pick the dates and book your flights. Your coordinator then books the hospital night, the six hotel nights and the transfers, and sends a short checklist of medicines to pause before travel and what to pack.
- 4
Fly to Istanbul or Izmir
Your 8 days in Turkey start now. Nothing is confirmed until you have had your blood tests and met your surgeon face to face.
What can delay your arm lift date
A quick trip does not mean you should travel before your body is ready for surgery. Your surgeon weighs a short list of factors before confirming the operation, and if your blood tests or the Day 2 consultation point to a safer wait, the date shifts rather than the plan being forced through.
| Factor | Why it matters | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking or nicotine | Nicotine narrows blood vessels and slows healing along the incision | You are asked to stop for several weeks before and after surgery |
| Weight still changing | Losing a lot more weight later can loosen the skin again | Surgery is planned once your weight has been stable for a while |
| Blood thinners and some supplements | They can increase bleeding during and after surgery | Your surgeon tells you what to pause and when. Never stop prescribed medication without your own doctor's advice |
| Skin not yet reassessed after recent weight loss | Arm shape can keep changing for months after a large weight loss | Some surgeons prefer to wait a little longer before operating |
| Plans for significant further weight loss | Can loosen the tightened skin again | Many people wait until their weight is stable |
If you live in the UK, the NHS rarely funds an arm lift, because it is usually considered a cosmetic operation, so most people compare private clinics at home and abroad. Wherever you go, ask how soon you can be seen, what happens if a test result pushes your surgery back, and who you can contact for aftercare once you are back home.
Your 8 days in Turkey
How long to stay in Turkey for an arm lift
Most patients spend 8 days in Turkey for an arm lift, from the day you land to the day you fly home after your check-up. Your coordinator meets you as soon as you land and stays reachable for the whole trip, with airport, hotel and clinic transfers all arranged for you.
- Day
1Arrival
Your coordinator meets you at the airport and settles you into your hotel. In the evening you have a call to run through the plan and ask anything before tomorrow's tests.
TransferHotel - Day
2Consultation & tests
Blood tests, then you mark the plan with your surgeon — incision length and scar line. This is also where you and your surgeon settle whether liposuction is part of the plan.
TestsConsultation - Day
3Surgery
Your arm lift takes place under general anaesthesia, typically around two hours. You stay in hospital overnight under nursing care.
SurgeryHospital - Day
4Back to the hotel
You are discharged from hospital after one night. You wear your compression sleeves and take your first short walks, arms kept low and supported.
DischargeRest - Day
5Recovery
Dressings are checked and pain relief is adjusted as needed. Your coordinator shows you how to manage the sleeves and any drains.
RestCheck-up - Day
6Recovery
Energy keeps building day by day, and most people are comfortable taking short walks around the hotel without help. Your coordinator checks in and sorts out anything you still need.
Rest - Day
7Check-up
A final check at the clinic looks at the dressing and how the incision is healing, any drain still in place comes out, and your surgeon clears you to fly.
Check-up - Day
8Fly home
Final instructions, your aftercare kit and advice for the flight — aisle seat, sleeves on, arms kept low. Your coordinator stays in touch on WhatsApp.
TransferAftercare
Arm lift recovery in Istanbul or Izmir, hospital and hotel
Your coordinator books your hotel in the city where you have surgery, Istanbul or Izmir, and confirms the transfers in your written plan, so you are never far from help during the quieter days between surgery and your Day 7 check-up.
Patient videos
Arm lift Turkey reviews in patients' own words
Package & price
Arm lift Turkey package and what it includes
- Liposuction with your arm lift in the same operation
- 1 night in hospital after surgery
- 6 nights in the hotel during recovery
- All transfers — airport, hotel, clinic
- Personal coordinator who speaks your language
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Liposuction with arm lift surgery, with Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz | Included |
| 1 night in hospital after surgery | Included |
| 6 nights in a hotel during recovery | Included |
| All transfers — airport, hotel, clinic | Included |
| Personal coordinator throughout your stay | Included |
| Check-ups during your 8 days in Turkey | Included |
| Compression sleeves | Confirmed in your quote |
| Post-op medication | Confirmed in your quote |
What changes the price: how much excess skin needs removing (mini vs. full or extended arm lift), whether liposuction covers the whole arm or just the area near the loose skin, and whether you combine the arm lift with another body-contouring procedure on the same trip. Your surgeon confirms the final figure once he has reviewed your photos together with your Day 2 consultation notes.
The operation
How an arm lift is done, step by step
A full arm lift takes around two hours under general anaesthesia: your surgeon removes the loose skin through a single incision running from the armpit toward the elbow, tightens the tissue beneath it, and closes the wound with two layers of sutures. At JFS Clinic the operation is on Day 3 of your 8-day trip, the day after your blood tests and Day 2 consultation, and you spend that night in hospital before moving back to the hotel on Day 4.
Your arm lift starts under general anaesthesia, so you are fully asleep for the whole operation. Before you go under, your surgeon marks your arm while you are standing with it raised to shoulder height — tracing the exact incision line along the inner arm, where the loose skin will be removed and how far the line runs toward the elbow. These marks simply carry forward the plan you and your surgeon agreed on Day 2.
Surgery itself opens with the incision, following the line your surgeon marked the day before. For a full arm lift this runs from the armpit toward the elbow, positioned on the inner arm where it is least visible with the arm at rest. If liposuction is part of your plan, it is usually done first, contouring the fat layer before your surgeon lifts the loose skin away from the tissue beneath it.
Inside the lift
Arm lift skin removal in four steps
- 1Sagging skin markedThe loose fold is measured with the arm raised.
- 2Incision openedA line is cut along the inner arm toward the elbow.
- 3Excess skin and fat removedThe loose flap is lifted, contoured and trimmed away.
- 4Incision closedLayered sutures close the wound along the arm line.
Arm lift skin removal
Once the loose skin is lifted away from the underlying tissue, your surgeon pulls it upward and inward to assess exactly how much needs to come off — too little leaves looseness behind, too much creates unwanted tension on the healing incision. The trimmed edges are then brought together under light tension, starting from the armpit and working down toward the elbow, so the new contour follows the natural line of the arm rather than a straight cut.
The incision is closed in layers — deeper, dissolvable sutures take the tension off the skin so the scar heals as thin as possible, then finer stitches close the surface. A thin drain is sometimes placed near the armpit to clear fluid for the first few days, especially after a longer incision or when liposuction has been combined with the lift. Before you wake up, your compression sleeve is already in place, supporting the arm from the moment you open your eyes.
Throughout the operation an anaesthetist watches your heart rate, oxygen levels and blood pressure, adjusting your anaesthesia as the surgery moves between stages — liposuction, skin removal and closure each take a different amount of time depending on how much work each arm needs. A full arm lift typically takes around two hours in total; a mini technique with a shorter incision can be quicker, while an extended arm lift or a combined operation with liposuction takes longer simply because there is more surgical ground to cover.
Once the dressing and sleeve are on, you are moved to a recovery area where nursing staff watch you wake from the anaesthetic before you go to your hospital room for your one night under observation. If a drain is used near the armpit, it clears fluid from the wound in the first few days; a nurse checks it on every round, and it typically comes out inside the first week once your surgeon is satisfied the area is draining cleanly on its own.
Recovery, day by day
Arm lift recovery time, week by week
Most people are back at a desk within 2 weeks, cleared for light exercise by week 6, and see the arm settle into its final shape by around month 3, with the scar still fading up to a year on. The first week is spent in the city where you have surgery, Istanbul or Izmir: one night in hospital after surgery on Day 3, hotel recovery in compression sleeves, a dressing check at the Day 7 check-up and the flight home on Day 8. Move the slider to any point in that first year to see how most people feel, what they can manage and what to steer clear of.
Recovery from an arm lift happens in three broad phases. The first week is about protecting the new incision — you keep your arms low and supported, avoid reaching overhead and let the compression sleeves do their job. Weeks two to six are about swelling and tightness easing off, which is usually when people feel ready for a desk job and everyday lifting again. From six weeks onward, the focus shifts from healing to the arm settling into its final, slimmer shape.
The sleeve is not just comfort — it keeps mild, even pressure on the arm while the deeper sutures take hold, which is why it stays on day and night for the first stretch and only moves to part-time wear once your surgeon is confident the incision has settled. If a drain was placed during surgery, your coordinator shows you how to manage it at the hotel; most people have it removed at the day-7 check-up, a little earlier if drainage has already slowed on its own.
Typical timeline for a full arm lift with liposuction. Your surgeon may give you a different plan.
| Activity | Week 1 | Week 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Week 6 | Months 3–6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arm movement | Kept low, no reaching overhead | Shoulder-height reaching returning | Most everyday reaching comfortable | No restriction | No restriction |
| Desk work | Not yet — the focus is on rest and short walks | Most people are back at a desk | Full days comfortable | No restriction | No restriction |
| Driving | Avoid — arm movement and pain relief both limit it | Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up | Set by your surgeon after your check-up | Cleared by your surgeon as you heal | No restriction |
| Flying | Day 7–8, after your check-up, wearing your sleeves | Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up | Set by your surgeon after your check-up | Cleared by your surgeon as you heal | No restriction |
| Gym | Not yet | Avoid — no lifting or overhead work | Still avoid — no weights | Gradual return, starting light | Normal exercise, as cleared by your surgeon |
| Sleeves | Worn at all times | Worn at all times | Worn at all times | Coming off, or worn only part-time | As advised by your surgeon |
Typical healing pattern for a full arm lift, built from the guidance above. Cells marked "Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up" depend too much on individual healing to generalise here, so ask about them directly at your consultation.
In her own words
This clip is also from Tülin's thigh lift recovery, not an arm lift — we are sharing it because, right at the end, she talks about what she is considering for her next visit.
This third visit was for a thigh lift — it's been a week since the surgery and I'm still really happy with the results. For my next visit, I'm thinking about an arm lift.
What to expect
Arm lift results and scar healing
Before you fly home, your surgeon checks the incision line at the Day 7 check-up in Istanbul or Izmir and goes through scar care with you. Most of the early swelling is gone within about six weeks, and most patients see the new arm contour taking shape by around month 3, though your arm keeps softening and settling for up to a year as deeper swelling resolves close to the scar.
The scar itself follows its own timeline. It sits on the inner arm, usually positioned so it is less visible with the arm resting at your side, and starts pink, slightly raised and firm to the touch, softening over the following weeks. Staying out of direct sun for the first year and following your surgeon's scar-care advice helps it fade toward a thin, pale line, though how quickly that happens still depends on your own skin.
Results vary from patient to patient. Your surgeon will tell you what is realistic for your body at the consultation.
Your arm lift surgeon
Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz
Plastic surgeon · Izmir
Dr. Yılmaz specialises in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, with a particular focus on body-contouring procedures — arm lifts, thigh lifts and combined liposuction operations make up a regular part of his caseload.
Which surgeon operates, and in which city, is written in your quote.
- Meets you in person before surgery to plan your incision line and whether liposuction is added
- Medicine: Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir · Plastic surgery residency: Ufuk University, Ankara (2012)
- Member, Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
More about Dr. Yılmaz →He is a perfectionist — very precise in what he does and in your health checks.
Questions
Arm lift in Turkey, frequently asked questions
How much does an arm lift cost in Turkey?
At JFS Clinic, the arm lift package is listed from £3,250 (€3,750 / $4,350) and includes liposuction with the arm lift surgery, one night in hospital, six nights in the hotel and all transfers. Extending the incision or adding liposuction to a wider area can change the price; your surgeon confirms the final figure after reviewing your photos.
See all package prices →How soon can I have an arm lift in Turkey?
Most JFS patients are in theatre within roughly a week of first getting in touch. You send two photos over, get back a personal plan with the dates on offer, and pick when you would like to travel. Your surgeon only confirms the date after your blood tests and the in-person consultation in Istanbul or Izmir, and pushes it back if that turns out to be the safer option.
From first message to surgery →Can I get an arm lift on the NHS?
Rarely. The NHS usually treats an arm lift as a cosmetic operation and funds it only in exceptional circumstances, decided by your local health board. so most people in the UK weigh up private clinics, at home and abroad, on surgeon, hospital, aftercare and overall cost.
Is it safe to have an arm lift in Turkey?
Safety depends on the surgeon and the hospital, not on which country you choose. Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz is a specialist plastic surgeon who operates in a hospital licensed to treat international patients, and JFS Clinic itself holds a health tourism licence. Your Day 2 blood tests and pre-operative assessment confirm you are fit for a general anaesthetic before any surgery date is locked in. Before you book, check your surgeon's qualifications, the hospital's licence and what the aftercare plan actually covers.
Who is the best arm lift surgeon in Turkey?
No surgeon can honestly claim to be the best for every patient, so judge on standard points: specialist training, experience with brachioplasty, a hospital licensed for international patients, a written price that states what it includes and clear follow-up at home. At JFS Clinic you see the surgeon's name before booking and meet them before surgery. Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz, a plastic surgeon who completed his specialist training in 2012, operates, and your coordinator passes questions and photos to him on WhatsApp.
How painful is brachioplasty surgery?
You are asleep for the operation itself. Afterwards, most patients describe the first few days as tight and sore, especially when lifting the arms above shoulder height, easing step by step as the swelling goes down. Pain relief is provided throughout, and exactly how it feels differs from one patient to the next.
Can saggy arms be fixed without surgery?
Non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency or ultrasound devices can tighten mild skin looseness to a limited degree, but they do not remove loose, hanging skin. Once skin has stretched past a certain point, usually after significant weight loss, an arm lift is the only treatment that removes the excess and tightens what remains.
What's the difference between a mini and a full arm lift?
A mini arm lift treats a smaller area of loose skin near the armpit through a short, hidden incision, usually with little change further down the arm. A full arm lift removes skin along the whole length of the upper arm, from the armpit toward the elbow, and is used when the looseness runs the full length of the arm. Your surgeon tells you which one fits at your consultation.
Can an arm lift be combined with other procedures?
Often, yes. Liposuction is regularly combined with an arm lift in the same operation, to contour fat as well as remove loose skin. Some patients also combine it with a thigh lift or other body-contouring surgery during the same trip. Your surgeon makes that call based on your health and how long a combined operation could safely run.
How long are the scars and do they fade?
A full arm lift leaves a scar running along the inner arm, from the armpit toward the elbow, usually positioned so it is less visible with the arm resting at your side. A mini arm lift leaves a shorter version, hidden in the armpit. It begins pink and slightly raised, then gradually softens and fades over the following months to a year.
How soon will I see my final result?
Initial swelling takes a few weeks to settle, and most people see the new arm shape taking form by around three months. The area continues to soften for up to a year as deeper swelling resolves. Results vary from patient to patient. Your surgeon will tell you what is realistic for your body at the consultation.
Often considered together
Treatments often combined with an arm lift
Some patients add one of these to the same 8-day trip to Istanbul or Izmir, so the hospital night, the six hotel nights and the transfers cover both procedures. Whether a combined operation suits you is decided by your surgeon at the Day 2 consultation, based on your blood tests, your health and the total operating time; your coordinator sends the combined package price after he has reviewed your photos.
Liposuction
Contours fat elsewhere on the body when skin is already firm and does not need removing.
Explore →
Thigh lift
Treats loose skin on the thighs with the same lift-and-tighten approach, often after major weight loss.
Explore →
Tummy tuck
Removes loose abdominal skin in the same way an arm lift treats the upper arm.
Explore →
Mommy makeover
Combines body-contouring procedures in one recovery, a common choice after major weight change.
Explore →Free arm lift consultation — Istanbul & Izmir
Send two photos of your upper arms and get a personal plan, free of charge.
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