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.