Last fact-checked: 27 September 2020

With an arm lift in Costa Rica, you can get rid of that loose, sagging skin that's often (and not particularly affectionately) referred to as "bat wings". This procedure is for people who have already tried everything possible to tone their arms, with the effects of diet and exercise no longer (or not ever) having any effect.

Depending on the condition of your upper arms, you may need only liposuction, liposuction combined with a mini arm lift, a moderate arm lift or even an extensive arm lift. This will give your upper arms a slimmer appearance and enable you to expose your arms or fit into tight sleeves once your surgery scars have healed.

Learn more about brachioplasty (as it is medically called) and book in with a quality-checked clinic in Costa Rica through our site.

Costa Rica in Central America is one of the world's most-visited medical tourism destinations, particularly for those based only a few hours away in North America.

The country now boasts a growing number of quality medical clinics, as well as JCI-accredited hospitals, English-speaking doctors and, above all, reasonable prices for all kinds of surgeries. These are all key factors for the rising popularity of medical tourism in Costa Rica, which now sees tens of thousands of people each year travel for some kind of treatment. 

Costa Rica is a richly biodiverse country; in fact, it claims as much as five percent of the world’s biodiversity with its numerous protected parks and forests, flora and fauna and wildlife, including endangered monkeys. The country also is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: La Amistad National Park, Cocos Island National Park and Area de Conservacion Guanacaste. 

Sun, sand, beaches, waterfalls, forests and wildlife–whichever kind of tourist destination appeals, you can find in Costa Rica. It is easily accessible from the US and Canada and serviced by major airlines. Residents of many countries do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica as long as they have a return ticket, making travel hassle-free.

If you opt for surgery in any foreign country, you need to ensure your safety any way you can. Booking through Medical Departures does just that. That is because we check the clinics and hospitals listed on our website personally and make sure they meet our high standards. They must follow international treatment protocols and have received good feedback from past patients.

We also carry out in-depth investigations into the background, personal and professional, experience, credentials and qualifications and other details of the doctors working at the medical centers.

You can browse through our range of partner clinics in Costa Rica, with surgeons-based cities including Liberia and San Jose. 

Arm lift surgery can consist only of liposuction to remove fat if you have good skin elasticity and are young. However, if you have lost a great deal of weight or your skin is not elastic, but sagging, then surgery is likely necessary. It may or may not be combined with liposuction.

The surgery can be done only on the top of the arm from the underarms to the elbows. For more extensive work, the incisions may go down to between the underarms and the upper part of the chest.

The surgery can take between 90 minutes and three hours. If liposuction is required together with tissue and skin removal, you may need to stay overnight in the hospital after being under general anesthesia.

Things to note about your recovery from brachioplasty:

• Your arms will be sutured and bandaged and you will have very restricted movement in both arms.
• You may need drains and compression garments if you have had liposuction.
• You will need to keep your arms elevated as far as possible.
• You should estimate a downtime of up to two weeks, while complete healing will take at least six weeks.
• You will have visible scarring that will fade over time and you do need to take care of your skin post-surgery.
• It is best to get any strenuous activities in before your surgery and recuperate post-surgery in the comfort of a hotel; do consult with your surgeon as to when you will be able to fly home.

In the US, you can pay around US $6,800, (CAD9,852, £ 6,040,€6,781, NZD10,332, AUD9,700) for this surgery. In Costa Rica, you will pay an average of US $5,382 (CAD7,308, £4,298, €4,998, AUD 7,150, NZD7,597) at one of our partner clinics. 

Please note: These are estimated prices at the time of writing. To see updated prices, as well as photos, surgeon profiles, patient reviews and location maps, check out these reputable clinics in Costa Rica for arm lifts: 

• Gustavo Chavarria
• Miguel Alfaro Dávila

Select from the quality-checked clinics listed on our website.

Look below for convenient ways to contact us. Alternatively, our Customer Care Team is on standby 24/7 to answer any questions or provide you with a personalized quote for your arm lift in Costa Rica. 

Sources:

Costa Rica. Latin America Collection. Website accessed: 22 August 2020. http://www.latinamericacollection.com/costa_rica/heritage_site.html

Joint Commission International. Website accessed: 27 September 2020. https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/