Brachioplasty
The arm lift, or brachioplasty, corrects loose skin and excess skin and fat on the inner and back of the arms. Loosening of the skin is common after major weight loss, with ageing, or when the skin does not retract well. Brachioplasty removes the excess skin and, if needed, reduces the fat by liposuction, for firmer arms and a better contour. Dr Manon Belhoste performs this procedure in Marseille, for €3,300 to €4,500.
The procedure
The arm lift, or brachioplasty, gradually removes the excess skin from the inner and back of the arm, then closes the skin without excessive tension. Liposuction may be performed before the skin is removed, when there is also excess fat.
Dr Manon Belhoste performs three formats of brachioplasty, which differ by their scar: a short scar limited to the armpit when the excess skin is moderate, a scar along the inner or back of the arm down towards the elbow, or an extended scar that joins the armpit and the arm. The format is decided during the consultation, depending on how much skin needs to be removed, where it is located, the quality of the skin, body shape and any scars already present.
- Price
- €3,300 to €4,500
The procedure and recovery
Dr Manon Belhoste performs brachioplasty at Polyclinique La Phocéanne and Clinique Phénicia in Marseille. A consultation with the anaesthetist comes before the procedure, and the risks specific to anaesthesia are explained at that consultation.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | General. |
| Duration | 2 to 3 hours |
| Hospital stay | Same-day discharge |
| Equipment | Drains: sometimes placed, depending on the technique, for a few days. Compression garment: worn on the arms for 4 to 6 weeks. |
| Exercise and strenuous activity | Return to activity is gradual and depends on healing. Activities that strain the arms and upper body resume only after several weeks. |
| Result | The result is assessed gradually, over several months, once the swelling has gone down and the tissues and scars have softened. An asymmetry already present before the procedure may persist. Major weight changes and ageing can change the result over time. |
Frequently asked questions
Here is a visual and schematic representation of the brachioplasty.
Brachioplasty removes excess skin from the inner and back of the arm, something no other technique can do when the excess skin is significant. Its main limitation is the scar, which is permanent and proportional to the amount of skin removed. A pre-existing asymmetry, an insufficient correction, loose skin that returns or an irregular contour may also persist, which sometimes makes a touch-up worth discussing after stabilisation. The alternatives depend on body shape: no procedure, weight stabilisation, or liposuction alone when the excess is mainly fat and the skin shrinks back sufficiently. Liposuction alone does not correct significant excess skin.
Before a brachioplasty, Dr Manon Belhoste and the anaesthetist must be told about all treatments, medicines and supplements you take. Treatments that affect blood clotting are stopped only on the advice of the prescriber, Dr Manon Belhoste or the anaesthetist: a prescribed treatment is never stopped alone. Stopping smoking and avoiding all nicotine is required, because nicotine increases the risk of poor healing and of necrosis of the skin.
After a brachioplasty, the arms are kept slightly raised at rest. During the first weeks, swelling, bruising, tightness and numbness on the inner arms are usual at first.
Liposuction alone may be enough when the excess is mainly fat and the quality of the skin allows sufficient retraction. It does not correct significant excess skin, which requires a brachioplasty.
The brachioplasty scar is permanent. It is placed, with the arm resting along the body, in the least visible area possible: the armpit, the inner arm or the posteromedial area. Its length is proportionate to the amount of excess skin to be corrected. Scars are red and firm for the first months, then soften and fade: full maturation can take 12 to 18 months. No direct sun exposure is advised for 1 year, then SPF 50+ protection once the scars have closed.
The price of a brachioplasty includes Dr Manon Belhoste's fees, follow-up consultations after the operation, anaesthesia and clinic fees at Polyclinique La Phocéanne or Clinique Phénicia.
Dr Manon Belhoste
Dr Manon Belhoste is a plastic surgeon, Doctor of Medicine and holder of the European Diploma in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery; she is in partnership with Dr Richard Abs, a specialist in buttock surgery.
Dr Manon Belhoste's background
The practice
Dr Manon Belhoste holds consultations at her practice, 1 Boulevard Lord Duveen, 13008 Marseille, from Monday to Thursday.
Operations take place at the La Phocéanne polyclinic and the Phénicia clinic, in Marseille.
The practice and the clinicsPage updated on 10 October 2026.