No matter how hard you try, diet and exercise might not be enough to get you the toned tummy you desire. There are many problems that can plague the midsection as we age, have children or lose weight. Fortunately, there are just as many solutions as there are problems.

If you’re unhappy with your midsection, it might be time to schedule a visit with a plastic surgeon. Consider the surgical and non-surgical solutions below.

Stomach Pooch

A stubborn layer of fat on your abdomen, otherwise known as a pooch, can be very difficult for some people to target through diet and exercise alone. If you’re in shape and at a healthy weight, but still bothered by a stomach pouch, you might be a good candidate for liposuction.

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that can target unwanted fat from almost anywhere on the body. Using a thin suctioning tube, your plastic surgeon can remove stubborn fat pockets from your abdomen.

Saggy Skin

Saggy skin around the midsection is common as we age. Compound this with childbirth and you can be left with a significant problem. Unfortunately, lax skin can’t be tightened, no matter how many crunches you do. They only way to eliminate excess skin is through surgery. If you want to tighten up the skin around your midsection, it might be time to consider a tummy tuck in the Bay Area.

A tummy tuck, otherwise known as abdominoplasty, removes extra skin and fat from your middle and tightens the abdominal muscles – making it a popular choice for mom’s who have finished having children.

Stretch Marks

Currently there isn’t a single treatment designated to target stretch marks alone. However, if you’ve developed stretch marks on your abdomen after pregnancy or weight fluctuations, you might be a good candidate for a tummy tuck.

It’s important to note that you would be trading in stretch marks for a bikini line scar, but as long as you choose a board certified plastic surgeon with the right experience, these effects will be minimal.

Love Handles

Love handles, muffin tops, spare tires – it doesn’t matter what you call them, most of us hate still hate them. Fortunately there’s an easy non-surgical fix for love handles – it’s called CoolSculpting.

CoolSculpting is a fat removal device that uses cooling technology to kill fat cells underneath the skin – freezing them to the point of elimination. This procedure is completely non-invasive, but results occur gradually over the course of several treatment sessions – so you’ll have to be patient.

Fat Apron

Losing a significant amount of weight is a huge accomplishment, unfortunately major weight loss sometimes comes with some undesirable side effects – like a loose fold of skin that hangs past the waist that won’t go away no matter what you do.

This problem can be fixed with a procedure called a panniculectomy. Similar to a tummy tuck, a panniculectomy only removes excess skin and fat – without tightening the abdominal muscles. It’s an ideal choice for men and women who’ve lost 100 pounds or more.

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In every case, it is always best to reach your goal weight first, if at all possible before having a tummy tuck.  At the very least, get down to a weight that you know you can maintain easily.  This will only make things better for you, as you will reduce the amount of revisions that may be necessary.  If you lose weight after everything is tightened then things might loosen a bit more, creating the possible need for additional surgery.

If you are actively trying to lose weight still, then keep up the good work until you are at your goal or very close to it, unless you have lost a significant amount and are experiencing itching and irritation because of the loose folds of skin hanging down.

In that case go ahead with the procedure, because there will always be SOME loosening of the skin post-op regardless, and there is no need to continue suffering needlessly.  Also, if you have reached a stable weight and have stayed there for several months, it should also be ok to proceed with your tummy tuck without too much potential for loosening later.

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Traditionally, tummy tuck surgery is thought to be best for patients who have excess skin, often after weight fluctuation or pregnancy.It’s certainly an excellent surgery to tighten a flabby abdomen and will commonly rid a belly of some or all of the stretch marks on the lower abdomen.

However, a tummy tuck also involves tightening the “six-pack” muscles in the center of the belly, which often separate and lie off to the sides instead of in the middle.  Bringing these “rectus abdominis” muscles back together is one of the essential steps of a full tummy-tuck procedure, and it is what improves the waistline and truly tightens the muscular part of the abdominal wall of muscles.

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I particularly enjoy working with patients who have recently undergone significant weight loss. Some of the most gratifying results – for both patient and physician – come from supplementing weight loss with cosmetic surgery to restore a balanced body contour.

Losing significant body fat, especially after many years of overweight, can leave behind loose, flabby folds of skin that do not respond to exercise. Older skin that has lost some of its natural elasticity also often means disappointing results for weight loss patients.

If you are contemplating gastric bypass surgery for drastic weight loss, or plan to lose a significant amount of weight soon, you should discuss with your personal physician the possibility of coordinating plastic surgery with your weight loss program. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon can give you valuable input on what to expect and the available solutions such as a tummy tuck or liposelection.

Some advance planning and coordination will greatly increase your chances of a successful and satisfying weight loss result.

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With changing social customs, many couples are waiting longer before having children, and the modern mother is often a professional woman taking time out of a busy career to have a family. Once maternity leave is over, whether after a few months or a few years, and the new mother is preparing to re-enter the business world, she may be taking stock of her wardrobe, her appearance, and her body image. She may find that in spite of dieting and exercise some parts of her body have not returned to her former body shape.

This would be the time to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a professional assessment and candid advice on the many options open. Whether a lower body lift, a mini-tummy tuck, or liposection is needed to restore body contour, or some limited liposelection to correct stubborn fat deposits in specific areas, your surgeon will provide you with complete information.

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There is never a good reason to have more elective plastic surgery than you absolutely need to achieve your aesthetic goals. Don’t ever apply the old adage, “While I’m at it I might as well…”. There are several “mini” plastic surgery procedures which are tailored to correct a specific facial or body feature you wish to improve without being unduly invasive or requiring long recovery periods.

The surgical procedure used to remove excess skin and also to tighten the abdominal muscles is referred to as abdominoplasty, but is more popularly known as a “tummy tuck”. This procedure is most often performed together with a full body resculpture following drastic weight loss or pregnancy or in conjunction with liposuction. There is, however, a modified procedure called the “mini tummy tuck” which can accomplish very pleasing results in specific cases.

 How do you know if the mini tummy tuck is for you? Some of these conditions could make you the perfect candidate:

• Following a weight loss program your weight has reached your desired level and is stable but you still carry a roll of extra fat below your belly button and in the waist area that you cannot get rid of.
• You exercise and eat healthy foods and feel toned but have been unable to firm or tighten your abdomen muscles.
• You’ve never had a weight problem and you’re happy with your general body shape but as you reach middle age you find your weight has shifted to your waist area.
• You are satisfied with your weight and shape, but the skin around your waist and abdomen is loose and flabby so you avoid clothing that reveals this area.

 A consultation with a Board-certified plastic surgeon who will explain the various options available and what choices you can make to achieve your goals could be very rewarding.

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I’m hearing more and more about the Mommy Makeover procedure.  In fact, this is really a collection of procedures that are individualized to each patient to help her recover the body, breast and facial features that she enjoyed before becoming pregnant.

During a consultation for a Mommy Makeover we will discuss the procedures that might apply to each patient, from minimally invasive facial procedures like Botox & fillers to restoration of body and breast contours.  Possible procedures that might be discussed are breast lift or breast augmentation, as well as tummy tuck or liposuction procedures.  Each ‘mommy’ is an individual, and therefore the plan will be as unique as each of my patients is.

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You may be the best candidate for a tummy tuck if you have lost a significant amount of weight recently but are still not pleased with your new body shape.Whether your weight loss plan was based on diet or exercise, or both, you may still be plagued with loose or sagging skin or pockets of fat which just didn’t disappear.

Especially if you were overweight for many years or are more mature you may find that your skin elasticity has diminished somewhat, and no amount of exercise or massage will give it the firmness you desire.

This would be the ideal time to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to see what procedures are available.One procedure used to remove excess skin and also to tighten the abdominal muscles beneath is abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck.Also ask about a mini-tummy tuck, liposuction, lower body lift, and upper arm lift, all procedure than can help you obtain the body contour to match your new slimmer look.

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This question is best addressed in a consultation with your surgeon, since it involves a discussion about what specifically you are experiencing, your skin elasticity, and what your goals are.  In general, a Tummy Tuck is best suited for patients who have skin and muscle laxity above and below the belly button.

A small number of patients are strong candidates for a Mini Tummy Tuck, which addresses loose skin only below the belly button. Patients who would benefit from the Mini Tummy Tuck are those who have excellent skin elasticity in the upper belly but a bit of extra skin below the belly button only.

However, as I suggested, this is best determined after seeing a doctor and having an exam.

If you undergo a Mini Tummy Tuck and have skin and muscle laxity above the belly button as well, it is doubtful you will be satisfied with the results of a Mini Tummy Tuck.  This can create a flat lower belly, and an upper belly that bulges.  So be sure to choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and create a plan of action that has the highest rate of success.

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An abdominoplasty, or Tummy Tuck is a procedure which improves sagging skin and loose muscle in the abdomen, both of which are very common after weight loss or pregnancy. A Tummy Tuck will often address the entire tummy, and correct the entire abdominal wall.  The recovery is very similar to the Mini Tummy Tuck, and overall results achieved are much more pleasing to the patient.

Some patients can benefit from a Mini Tummy Tuck, which addresses an isolated problem of excess skin below the belly button only.  Ideal candidates for the Mini Tummy Tuck have excellent skin elasticity and excess skin below the belly button only.  If the upper abdominal fascia is loose as well, you will most likely be dissatisfied with the results of your Mini Tummy Tuck, due to the bulge that may appear at the top of your abdomen where the skin and muscle was not tightened.

I recommend that you have a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area to discuss which of these would be most appropriate for you.  Be sure to have him perform a full exam of your belly, including assessing the separation of your rectus abdominis muscles that is so common with pregnancy and weight gain.

You and your surgeon should come up with a surgical plan together that addresses your concerns and meets your specific goals. If you feel you have extra skin above the belly button, then a mini tummy tuck is probably not going to give you a full correction.

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