The best candidate has relatively little fat and a bothersome amount of skin that hangs and “wiggles” with movement. If the arm is heavy with fat, liposuction may be a better option. When both problems coexist (obesity and laxity), staging may be the best option since liposuction leads to more swelling which can compromise the amount of skin removed.
Even more problematic, extensive liposuction combined with brachioplasty can cause problems with circulation as the arm swells from liposuction against skin that is tightened by the lift, acting like a tourniquet. In these cases it’s often best to have the liposuction first, let it heal completely, then proceed with the skin removal for the optimal result.