Yeah, the instant 6 pack guy is my husband. It's tough to be a girl. You are right about past condition, young girls should know that the rest of their lives -physical condition- is determined by how well they sculpt now.
I am slender, so I tone quickly, but the down side is that I go to sag more quickly as well. I didn't start my "mom's journey" with a sculpted body. But, I was most always fit.
About surgery, I look at that the same way that I see facial tucks. You loose the real (fun) and growth through understanding.
Genetics does play a huge role in attaining a 6 pack. However, there are many ways anyone can boost their metabolism (ex: eating 6 smaller but high protein meals per day). Combining this with regular cardio, you can burn off that belly fat and expose your 6 pack.
Once that belly fat is gone, you can do weighted exercises to build additional muscle to really show off.
Many people do abdominal exercises thinking that will burn off the belly fat. This is impossible. It will only create muscle, pushing the belly out further and causing it to look bigger.
Gotta lose the fat before you sculpt, or do a 2 step program simultaneously (cardio and weight/resistance training).