Upper Body Lift

Surgical excision of redundant skin and fat, followed by tissue tighten…

Plain-English name: Upper Torso Contouring

Upper Body Lift

Also known asPost-Bariatric Upper Body ReshapingBrachioplasty with Upper Back ResectionUpper Torso Lift

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Excess skin and fat are precisely removed from the upper arms, back, and chest, often with breast reshaping, to achieve a smoother, firmer silhouette.

Downtime: 3 weeks
Sessions: Typically one surgical session.
Pain: High
Cost per procedure: Price level 5 of 5
Results last: Permanent with stable weight

Surgery that removes loose skin from the upper body, usually after major weight loss.

Check first: Unstable weight loss.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: Several hours

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

Several weeks

May look swollen

3 weeks

No sweat or heat

6 weeks

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Optimize nutritional status for healing.
- Keep a stable weight
- Ensure BMI is 35 or less.
- Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E, if your doctor agrees
- Follow your surgeon's aftercare
- Manage and optimize any pre-existing chronic medical conditions.
- Stop smoking
After your visit
- No direct sun
- Follow your surgeon's wound care
- No hard exercise or heavy lifting for several weeks
- Drink plenty of water
- Follow your surgeon's aftercare
- Wear your compression garment
- Go to all follow-up visits
- Initial recovery involves significant pain management, wound care, and restricted movement. Drains may be placed to collect fluid. Swelling and bruising are common. Gradual return to light activities over several weeks, with full recovery and resolution of swelling taking several months.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Unstable weight loss
A high BMI, which raises the risk of problems
Inadequate nutrition for healing
Significant pre-existing chronic conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic kidney disease, active smoking) that impair healing or increase surgical risk
Unrealistic expectations
Pregnancy (planned cosmetic surgery waits until after the baby is born)

Possible side effects

Common

Swelling
Bruising
Pain/Discomfort
Numbness
Scarring
Hematoma (blood accumulation)
Seroma (fluid accumulation)

Less common

Infection
Delayed wound healing
Skin necrosis (tissue death)
Nerve damage
Asymmetry
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pulmonary embolism (PE)
Adverse reaction to anesthesia

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Surgical excision of redundant skin and fat, followed by tissue tightening and repositioning, sculpts a refined upper body.

A little more technical

This procedure involves surgically excising excess skin and fat from the upper arms (brachioplasty), upper back and lateral chest, and often includes breast reshaping to correct laxity and improve contour.

The procedure involves surgical excision of redundant skin and subcutaneous fat, often combined with liposuction, from the upper arms (brachioplasty), upper back, and lateral chest. Breast contouring (mastopexy or autoaugmentation) is frequently integrated to address ptosis and restore volume, with techniques like lateral tension upper body lift providing comprehensive tissue repositioning.

Technique: Circumferential Excision; A massive reconstructive surgery that removes continuous bands of excess skin across the back, chest, and sides in a single operation.
Target: Dermal & Adipose Laxity; Completely resuspends the entire upper torso to reverse severe skin drooping commonly experienced after major weight-loss surgery.
Clinical descriptor: Upper Body Lift
Permanence / longevity: Permanent with stable weight