While it would be great if we could lose weight evenly all over, we all have areas of the body where fat seems to be lost and gained more easily. “Love handles” and “muffin top” are some of the cute nicknames given to common problem areas on the body where resistant fat tends to accumulate, but there isn’t much to love about these fatty deposits that visibly cling to the sides of the waist and hang over the edge of a pants or skirt. A standard abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is traditionally used to re-shape the stomach area, but this procedure only addresses the frontal part of the abdomen. While tummy tuck surgery from our Palm Desert-based Cosmetic Surgery Institute isn’t a solution for love handles, these other techniques might be able to help you develop a thinner waistline.

Exercise

Remember that spot exercises that target the obliques and side crunches are unlikely to slim down your sides because they don’t shrink fat cells. However, since a sedentary lifestyle makes fat accumulation more likely, try to be more active and incorporate cardio into your daily routine along with weight training.

Sleep More

You need to get enough sleep to avoid high cortisol levels in the body that can cause weight gain on the abdominal area. Try to consistently get seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

Liposuction

Our team usually combines liposuction with tummy tuck surgery to target surrounding areas such as the sides, lower back, and hips. This is what’s called an extended tummy tuck. If the front of the stomach and the sides are both areas you hope to improve, be sure to express your concern about love handles as well if you’re having a consultation for a tummy tuck. Liposuction can also be performed as a standalone procedure if you simply want to decrease fatty deposits on the flanks.

Ready to sculpt a slimmer, sleeker abdominal area? Get more advice about tummy tuck surgery from the team at Cosmetic Surgery Institute. If you have questions about this or other types of plastic surgery, don’t hesitate to contact us. For more information, give us a call at (760) 837-0364 or submit a contact form to request a consultation.