To understand if upper arm liposuction is as effective as brachioplasty it is first necessary to understand the difference between the two procedures. Liposuction is usually used to remove excess fat from the upper arm area, whereas a Brachioplasty is a more extensive surgical procedure that not only removes fat, but also removes loose saggy skin.

Some individuals are simply born with heavy upper arms, or they have developed chunkier upper arms as they got older. But that often isn't the end of the story. For some people their upper arm skin can become loose and flabby, so they can end up having to deal with two separate problems with their upper arms - extra fat and loose, flabby skin.

When your arms are carrying extra weight, this can make a woman look quite out of proportion. Clothes shopping can be a nightmare. Women can end up covering their arms, as t-shirts and short-sleeved tops can make the wearer feel even more self-conscious. This can be made worse if t that 'bat wing' look feared by most women above a certain age has developed.

So how can you tell if you are a suitable candidate for liposuction, or if you need a full brachioplasty to put you right? Usually the answer to that depends on the amount of excess skin you have on your upper arms.

If your arms are chunky but the skin still has good elasticity, you are probably a good candidate for upper arm liposuction only. This is because if your skin has good elasticity, once the fat has been suctioned out, the skin should shrink back to accommodate the new shape - with a little help from a special compression garment you will need to wear for a few weeks afterwards.

If you fall into the other category whereby you have extra fat as well as loose, flabby skin, the 'fix' will more likely be a full brachioplasty procedure. You will have some scarring from this, usually located on the inner arms and armpits.

As for the after effects - as liposuction is a more minor procedure than brachioplasty, the recovery time for lipo will be shorter. With both procedures compression garments are usually worn for a few weeks to ensure that the results stay put as they are meant to.

But there's one thing for sure, whether upper arm liposuction or brachioplasty is the right option for you, the satisfaction you will experience when you can shop for clothes you couldn't wear before will be well worth it!