Upper Body Lift

Upper body lift surgery combines arm lift, bra line back lift and breast lift to remove excess skin from the upper body after significant weight loss. Also known as torsoplasty or 360 upper body lift. Day case under TIVA at our CQC-regulated Baker Street clinic.

Upper Body Lift Surgery in London

An upper body lift is a combination of surgical procedures designed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper body following significant weight loss. The most commonly affected areas after major weight loss are the upper arms, upper and mid-back, and breasts — each of which develops characteristic skin laxity that cannot be addressed by exercise or non-surgical treatments. An upper body lift addresses all three areas in a coordinated plan, combining an , a , and a .

Also known as a torsoplasty or 360 upper body lift, the procedure is most commonly performed after bariatric surgery, significant diet-and-exercise weight loss, or weight loss medication. Because each of the three component procedures involves lengthy incisions and meaningful recovery, an upper body lift is typically staged across two or three sessions rather than performed as a single operation. The appropriate combination and sequence is determined at consultation.

All upper body lift procedures at Centre for Surgery are performed under as a day case at our by GMC Specialist Register consultant plastic surgeons.

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What Is an Upper Body Lift?

An upper body lift is not a single procedure — it is a coordinated surgical plan addressing three distinct areas of upper body skin laxity that develop after significant weight loss. The three components are:

Each of these procedures addresses a problem that is specific to its anatomical area. They are complementary — patients who have lost significant weight typically develop skin laxity in all three areas simultaneously — but they are not dependent on each other. Some patients may require only two of the three components. Your surgeon will assess each area at consultation and recommend the appropriate plan.

For patients seeking a complete transformation after massive weight loss, an upper body lift can be staged alongside a to address the abdomen, flanks, lower back, outer thighs and buttocks — providing comprehensive upper and lower body contouring.

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What Does an Upper Body Lift Include?

After significant weight loss, the skin of the inner upper arm sags and hangs — creating a bat-wing appearance that is resistant to exercise and cannot be improved non-surgically. The arm lift removes this excess skin and fat through an incision running along the inner arm from the armpit to the elbow. Mini arm lift (shorter incision, moderate skin excess) from £4,500. Full arm lift from £6,000.

The upper back fat (infra-scapular region) is often fibrous and poorly suited to liposuction. Where excess skin and fat fold over the bra strap, creating visible rolls, the bra line back lift removes the tissue through a horizontal elliptical incision at the bra line level. The three-layer closure technique used at Centre for Surgery means surgical drains are not routinely required. Patients wear a sports bra rather than an abdominal compression garment during recovery. Priced at consultation.

Weight loss causes significant breast ptosis — drooping, deflated breasts with a descended nipple-areola complex. A breast lift reshapes the breast tissue and repositions the nipple-areola complex to a more youthful position. Where volume loss is also significant, a breast lift can be combined with breast implants (augmentation mastopexy) or fat transfer. Breast lift priced at consultation.

Residual fat deposits in the upper arms, flanks or back can be addressed by combined at the same session as the relevant lift procedure. This avoids a separate anaesthetic and recovery period.

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Am I Suitable for an Upper Body Lift?

An upper body lift is appropriate for patients with skin laxity affecting the upper arms, upper back and/or breasts following significant weight loss. General suitability criteria:

At consultation your surgeon will assess each area independently and advise on which procedures are indicated, the recommended staging sequence, and the appropriate interval between stages.

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The Upper Body Lift Procedure

Upper body lift surgery is performed under as a day case at our . Because three separate areas are addressed, the upper body lift is typically staged across two sessions to limit operative time per session and optimise recovery.

A common staging approach is to perform the bra line back lift in the first session, then the arm lift and breast lift together in a second session. Your surgeon will advise the recommended sequence for your specific anatomy at consultation.

Where the bra line back lift and other procedures are combined in the same session, the surgeon performs the back lift first — with the patient positioned face-down — before turning the patient face-up to perform the arm and breast work. This sequencing allows efficient use of operative time and avoids repositioning mid-procedure where possible.

Bra line back lift: Elliptical incision across the upper back at the bra line. Excess skin and fat excised. Three-layer closure — no drains routinely required. Sports bra applied.

Arm lift: Incision along the inner arm from armpit to elbow. Excess skin and fat removed. Dissolvable sutures. Drains placed and removed at the first postoperative appointment.

Breast lift: Incision pattern depends on the degree of ptosis (periareolar, vertical, or full anchor pattern). Breast tissue reshaped, nipple-areola complex repositioned. Dissolvable sutures throughout. Where implants or fat transfer are combined, these are performed at the same session.

TIVA is administered by a consultant anaesthetist throughout. The nursing team monitors you for one to three hours after waking. Written discharge instructions and the 24/7 clinical support number are provided. A responsible adult must take you home.

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Recovery After an Upper Body Lift

Recovery from an upper body lift depends on which procedures are performed in each session. The following general principles apply across all components.

After procedures involving the arms and breasts, sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated on a pillow and pillows placed either side to prevent rolling. Avoid excessive arm movements for the first two weeks. This is distinct from recovery after an isolated bra line back lift, where side-lying is preferred — when combining the bra line back lift with arm and breast work, your surgeon will advise the optimal sleeping position based on which incisions are most vulnerable.

An arm compression sleeve is worn after the arm lift for six weeks. A well-fitting sports bra is worn after the bra line back lift, also from the second week. A surgical bra is provided after the breast lift and worn throughout the initial recovery. Compression garments are not included in procedure costs and must be purchased before surgery.

Pain is managed with paracetamol as required. Local anaesthetic is infiltrated during each procedure. Most patients find discomfort well-controlled within the first week of each stage.

Permitted 48 hours after surgery. Avoid soaking the wounds — brief showering only. No baths for at least six weeks.

Light walking from day one. Desk-based work: one to two weeks. Avoid lifting, overhead reaching and strenuous upper body exercise for six weeks. Full gym training at six weeks subject to surgeon review.

Significant improvement visible immediately. Swelling resolves over three to six months. All scars mature over six to twelve months. Final results from all stages visible at twelve months.

24/7 clinical support for the first 48 hours. Wound check at seven to ten days — included. Surgeon review at six weeks — included. Three-month assessment — included.

Risks of Upper Body Lift Surgery

The upper body lift involves multiple lengthy incisions across different regions of the upper body. The cumulative risk profile is higher than any single component procedure performed in isolation. Key risks:

Your surgeon will discuss all procedure-specific risks in full at consultation for each component.

Upper Body Lift Cost in London

The cost of an upper body lift at Centre for Surgery depends on which procedures are required, whether all three components are included, whether SAFElipo