Tummy
Tuck
Restore a flat, toned abdomen — removing excess skin, repairing separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), and eliminating the post-pregnancy or post-weight-loss belly that diet and exercise cannot fix.
What Is a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD · Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) · Last reviewed June 26, 2026
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess abdominal skin and fat, repairs separated or weakened abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), and creates a flatter, tighter abdominal contour. It directly addresses changes that diet, exercise, and even significant weight loss cannot reverse — primarily loose, excess skin and muscle separation caused by pregnancy or massive weight changes.
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque performs abdominoplasty in Austin, TX using the full abdominoplasty technique for most patients (removing skin below the navel), the mini-abdominoplasty for patients with concerns limited to the lower abdomen, and the extended or fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty for patients with excess skin around the flanks or following massive weight loss.
Diastasis recti — the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles that commonly occurs during pregnancy — is repaired with internal sutures as part of the tummy tuck. This muscle repair is critical for both appearance (eliminating the "mommy pouch") and function (core strength). No amount of exercise can repair diastasis recti — it requires surgical correction.
Many patients combine a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks, back, or thighs for more comprehensive body contouring. This combination — commonly called a mommy makeover — is planned and performed in a single surgery when appropriate.
True Abdominal Restoration — Muscle and Skin
A tummy tuck is more than skin removal. The muscle repair component — plicating the diastasis to reconstruct the abdominal wall — is the element that produces a truly flat, strong abdomen rather than just tighter skin over a bulging core. Dr. Levesque addresses both every time.
His approach includes liposuction of the upper abdomen in conjunction with the skin excision when appropriate — producing the flattest, most contoured result possible and avoiding the "step-off" deformity that can result from skin excision alone without volume reduction above the cut.
What to Expect
From your first consultation to your final result, here's how the process works at Levesque Plastic Surgery.
Consultation
Dr. Levesque evaluates your abdominal wall, assesses diastasis, examines skin excess, and recommends the appropriate technique. He discusses combining with liposuction if indicated and reviews realistic expectations for scar placement and recovery.
Surgery Day
Tummy tuck takes 2.5–4 hours under general anesthesia. Diastasis is repaired, excess skin is removed, the navel is repositioned (if needed), and incisions are closed in layers. You go home the same day.
Recovery & Results
Recovery requires 2–3 weeks off work and 4–6 weeks before full activity. Compression garment is worn for 6 weeks. Results are dramatic from the start; final contour settles over 6–12 months as swelling fully resolves.
Tummy Tuck Before & After
All photos are of Dr. Levesque's own patients, presented with permission. Hover each card to see the after.
Am I a Candidate?
Here's a general guide — Dr. Levesque will assess your candidacy personally at consultation.
Good Candidates Typically Have:
- Excess abdominal skin after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging
- Diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles) causing a bulge
- Loose skin that does not respond to diet and exercise
- Stable weight for 6+ months — near goal weight
- Done with pregnancy (future pregnancies compromise results)
- Non-smoker or willing to quit ≥4 weeks before surgery
Factors That May Affect Candidacy:
- Planning future pregnancies — wait until done
- Active smoking — greatly increases complication risk
- Significantly overweight — weight loss before surgery recommended
- Expecting dramatic weight loss in the near future
What Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
Tummy tuck cost at Levesque Plastic Surgery depends on the extent of skin excess, whether diastasis repair is needed, and whether liposuction is combined.
Many patients combine tummy tuck with liposuction or breast procedures — a combined quote is provided for any package.
Dr. Levesque provides a transparent, itemized quote at consultation. Financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, Cherry, and PatientFi is available.
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What Patients Say
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD
Dr. Levesque approaches the tummy tuck as a reconstruction of the abdominal wall — not just a cosmetic procedure. Repairing diastasis recti, removing excess skin, and refining volume with liposuction together produce a result that is both aesthetically transformative and functionally restorative.
His patients who have undergone tummy tuck after pregnancy consistently describe the result as giving them their body back — something no amount of diet or exercise could accomplish alone.
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