What is the cost of brachioplasty in Turkey?
The price of brachioplasty in Turkey ranges from £1,800 to £2,900, compared to £4,500 in the UK. This all-inclusive fee covers anaesthesia, surgery, and 5 nights’ hotel stay. The procedure takes 2 to 3 hours and includes 1 night in hospital for medical monitoring.
📊 2026 Price Comparison
| Procedure type | Turkey Prices | UK Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Standard brachioplasty | £1,900 – £2,500 | £4,000 – £5,500 |
| Brachioplasty + Vaser Liposuction | £2,300 – £3,100 | £5,000 – £7,000 |
| Mini arm lift | £1,600 – £2,100 | £3,000 – £4,200 |
| Bilateral arm lift | £2,000 – £2,800 | £4,200 – £5,800 |
What is brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty, also known as an arm lift, reshapes the upper arm to tighten loose skin and remove the fat that often creates a “bat wing” appearance under the arm. Removing excess skin caused by weight loss or natural ageing can tighten the loose skin that extends from the armpit to the elbow.
Liposuction is sometimes combined when there is still fat to remove. The choice between the two is based on skin quality, not the amount of fat.
During an arm lift, excess skin and fat between the armpit and the elbow are removed. As the excess skin is taken away and fat is removed, the upper arms maintain a good contour.
Brachioplasty techniques in Turkey
- Arm liposuction: Often performed for patients who do not have excess skin but have fat on the upper arm. The patient will not have an arm lift scar.
- Arm lift with minimal incision: This procedure is usually for patients with a small amount of excess skin; they will need incisions, but minimal.
- Extended arm lift: This technique is used for patients who were overweight, leaving significant extra skin. The incision is long, typically running from the elbow, through the armpit, and towards the side of the chest.
Arm Surgery in Turkey
Istanbul is the go-to destination for cosmetic surgery. It is undeniable that, thanks to their immense expertise, Turkish cosmetic surgeons achieve natural results with brachioplasty in Turkey. After an arm lift, many patients also enjoy exploring Istanbul, as prices are very affordable.
An arm lift in Turkey usually takes 1 to 3 hours, but it can be longer and is performed under general anaesthesia. Our comprehensive aftercare service is available during your stay in Turkey, in case you experience any pain after the operation.
Advantages of brachioplasty in Turkey
The package offered by Istanbul clinics typically includes:
- Arm surgery by a plastic surgeon practicing in Istanbul
- 4-night stay in a 4-star hotel
- 1-night hospital stay
- Private car airport-hotel transfer
- Personal assistant
- Special discount for groups
- Free check-ups and periodic follow-up
Choose MeilleureClinique.fr for a successful cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
Post-operative care after brachioplasty in Istanbul
After an arm lift, the incisions will be wrapped in a dressing. You may have drains to remove any excess blood or fluid. It is advisable to come with a friend or family member to help. For a few weeks, it is normal to experience pain and swelling.
The doctor will remove your dressings a few days after the operation.
Do’s and don’ts:
- For the first 3-4 weeks after the arm lift, do not raise your arms above shoulder level.
- For 4 to 8 weeks after an arm lift, avoid physical and sporting activities with your arms that could stretch the incisions.
- Take the medications/creams prescribed by your doctor
- Patients are allowed to walk immediately after surgery.
- Do not jog or engage in contact sports for at least six weeks.
- After one month, patients can start cycling.
- For the first 1 to 2 weeks after the operation, patients should sleep with their arms elevated on two or three pillows.
- Patients must not shower until their doctor gives the go-ahead.
Ask the surgeon whether the stitches will be removed. Some stitches are dissolvable, so there is nothing to do. However, if the doctor used non-dissolvable sutures, the surgeon will need to remove them.
RESULTS
No published study follows patients long enough to quantify how long the result lasts. The human body continues to age, including the skin. This could mean that in the future, a patient who had an arm lift might experience loose skin.
If patients gain a lot of weight after the arm lift and then lose it, the loose skin will return. In either case, the resulting arm laxity will be much less pronounced than before the operation.
By getting rid of flabby arm skin with an arm lift in Istanbul, patients will have a more toned-looking arm. Weight stability is the main factor the patient can control.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the scar go, and is it permanent?
It follows the inner side of the arm, from the armpit towards the elbow depending on the excess to remove, and it is permanent. The teams publishing on this surgery open their work with this point: scarring is their major concern[1].
How much does a brachioplasty cost in the UK?
Expect around £4,500 in the UK, compared to £1,800 to £2,900 in Turkey. The difference reflects the cost of the facility and stay, not the procedure itself. The Turkish package covers the hotel and transfers, never the flight or the cost of managing complications back home.
Which complications are most common?
An analysis of 32 body contouring malpractice cases places infection or sepsis first, in 40.6% of cases, followed by scarring and prolonged pain, each in 31.3%[2]. These are litigations, not rates.
What if a complication occurs after returning to the UK?
Seroma, wound dehiscence, and infection often appear after you return, once the package has been consumed[3]. This is the first thing to address before going to Turkey for surgery. The issue is resolved at the time of the quote, not once you are back.
Do I need a medical assessment before the operation?
After a sleeve gastrectomy or bypass, preoperative optimisation is mandatory: smoking cessation, stopping herbal supplements, and a nutritional assessment[4]. A short package does not always allow this. This assessment is specific to patients who have undergone weight loss surgery.
Should I add Vaser liposuction?
Only if there is still fat once the skin has been removed. Vaser liposuction removes no skin: on a sagging arm, it never replaces skin excision. The surgeon decides during the examination, by pinching the skin of the raised arm.
Is it cheaper in Tunisia?
Yes: a brachioplasty in Tunisia ranges from £1,600 to £2,300, compared to £1,800 to £2,900 in Turkey. The procedure is the same. What differs is the travel time and the surgeon’s availability in case of revision.
Sources & References
- Nisi G, Giardino FR, Giudice M, et al. The "Jaws" Brachioplasty: An Original Technique. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022. View source
- Reese A, Navarro A, Kozlowski K, et al. An Updated Analysis of Body Contouring Malpractice Cases. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2024. View source
- Tay JQ, Lo S. Complications of cosmetic surgery tourism. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2022. View source
- Kokosis G, Coon D. Safety in Body Contouring to Avoid Complications. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2018. View source
