The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery
8600 Fern Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71105
Phone: (318) 795-0801
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery
8600 Fern Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71105
Phone: (318) 213-1772
Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tummy Tuck

Name: Tummy Tuck
Brand: The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery
Rating: 4.8 (325 reviews)

When you undergo a tummy tuck at The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery in Shreveport, Louisiana, you can feel confident knowing our surgeons are globally recognized innovators in abdominoplasty and body contouring, bringing together decades of research, innovation, and peer-reviewed outcomes.

Whether you’re reclaiming your figure after pregnancy, addressing excess skin after weight loss, or simply seeking a flatter, firmer midsection, you’re choosing a practice where innovation meets integrity, and precision, artistry, and personalized care produce stunning, natural-looking outcomes. At The Wall Center, we view your body as a masterpiece in progress because you deserve nothing less than exceptional results.

Woman lifting gray shirt to reveal a toned, flat abdomen with defined muscle tone

Tummy Tuck
Before & After Photos

This gallery contains images intended for adult audiences.

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Fit woman’s midsection wearing a white sports bra and white underwear, standing with hands on hips against a plain gray background.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is an elective surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens stretched abdominal muscles to create a flatter, firmer midsection. It’s especially effective after pregnancy or significant weight loss, when skin and muscle laxity cannot be improved with diet or exercise alone.

The Wall Center Tummy Tuck Difference

Our “standard” tummy tuck is far from standard. To achieve unsurpassed results, your surgeon:

Personalizes the procedure to your wants and needs
Accounts for your unique anatomical features and proportions
Considers your entire silhouette and your gender
Reshapes your abdomen, back, waist, hips, buttocks, and thighs together, from front to back
Uses an extremely low horizontal incision for a thin, easily concealed scar 
Provides an impeccably recreated belly button

Our 360-Degree Approach to Abdominoplasty

When planning a tummy tuck, our surgeons address the midsection circumferentially, evaluating how your abdomen blends into your waist, back, and hips for a natural, balanced result. This approach sets us apart from surgeons who only focus on abdominal skin and muscle.

Most patients benefit from a combination of abdominoplasty and SAFELipo®, a body contouring technique developed and refined by our medical director, Dr. Simeon Wall Jr. With SAFELipo, we gently remove unwanted fat to reveal beautiful contours that transition smoothly from front to back, top to bottom, while placing a thin, even layer of fat under the skin to prevent contour irregularities. This integration of techniques ensures your tummy tuck enhances your overall silhouette, not just your midsection.

Smiling blonde woman in a lavender sleeveless top standing outdoors near green foliage and a garden fence

Candidates for Tummy Tuck

Even though tummy tucks are typically associated with women who have had children, the procedure can benefit anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight and wants to address excess abdominal skin, stretch marks, separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), and a misshapen belly button.

A good tummy tuck candidate is typically between the ages of 30 and 55 and meets the following criteria:

At a healthy BMI and close to their desired body weight
Wants specific areas of loose skin and fat removed
Has maintained a stable weight for at least 6 months
Has realistic expectations

During your consultation, your surgeon discusses your desired results and evaluates your health, the extent of fat deposits in your abdomen, and your skin tone.

BMI Calculator

While body contouring surgery isn't about weight loss, it can be a great way to target certain "trouble spots" when you drop the extra pounds. Quickly calculate your body mass index (BMI) here.

*Please enter all fields for an accurate BMI calculation.

Weight:

Height:

Underweight Below 18.5

Normal 18.5–24.9

Overweight 25.0–29.9

Obese 30.0 & Above

Tummy Tuck Techniques

Your surgeon will recommend one of the following techniques and personalize it to your unique anatomy and aesthetic goals:

Diagram of a full abdominoplasty showing a hip-to-hip lower abdominal incision and the repositioned belly button with distance markers.

Full Tummy Tuck

Also called a standard or complete tummy tuck, this technique addresses skin on the entire trunk, including the skin and tissues around the waist, and provides a pubic lift and an anterior thigh lift. It requires two incisions: one extremely low in the pubic area extending out to the hip bones and one deep inside the belly button.

Extended Tummy Tuck

Our surgeons use this option for patients who have significant skin laxity, often after weight loss. It extends the standard tummy tuck incision to address a greater degree of excess skin of the trunk, pubic area, and anterior thighs.

Short Vertical Scar
Tummy Tuck

This technique involves the same incisions as a standard tummy tuck, along with a very short incision extending up toward the belly button, which allows the horizontal incision to remain very low and hidden. We use this technique when there is notable laxity, and we do not want to compromise the results by leaving the patient with a higher, easily visible scar, as is typical with most other surgeons in these scenarios.

Umbilical Float Tummy Tuck

This technique, appropriate for select patients who need just minor tightening, involves a single, extremely low horizontal incision across the pubic area, extending across the groin. Instead of using an incision within the belly button, the surgeon releases it from its stalk from behind. Patients must have the right type of body proportions, such as a longer torso with a high-set belly button and minimal skin laxity in the upper abdomen.

Medical illustration of a lower torso showing tummy tuck incision lines, progressive tension sutures, and contour-equalization zones used in advanced abdominoplasty techniques.

Advanced Techniques for Superior Results

During tummy tuck surgery, our surgeons use progressive tension sutures in multiple areas to secure the skin to the underlying abdominal wall. This advanced technique virtually eliminates fluid accumulation during the healing process, a complication called a seroma. It also minimizes tension on the horizontal incision for finer, less noticeable scars.

Drains placed at the end of surgery help reduce swelling and collect excess blood and fluid, minimizing the risk of complications; they are removed a few days later. The internal sutures dissolve on their own within about 6 weeks.

What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is an abbreviated version of a tummy tuck that is suited to a select patient population. It removes less than 3 inches of fat and skin from below the belly button and does not repair muscles. In contrast, a full tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat above and below the belly button, tightens the abdominal muscles, and relocates and reshapes the belly button. While our surgeons offer the mini tummy tuck, they typically recommend against it to avoid disappointment.

Woman's midsection in white underwear showing smooth contours of the abdomen, hips, and thighs

Mini vs. Full Tummy Tuck

CONSIDERATION	MINI TUMMY TUCK	FULL TUMMY TUCK
Low incision length	10 – 20 cm	32 – 44 cm
Skin tightening	Below the belly button	Above and below the belly button
Belly button	Remains where it is	Repositioned, reshaped
Abdominal muscles	Does not involve the muscles	Repairs and tightens separated and bulging muscles

Actual patient of the Wall Center relaxing in a poolside chair wearing a white swimsuit, showing a smooth, contoured abdomen.

How Long Is Tummy Tuck Recovery?

Patients typically need 2 to 3 weeks of downtime after a tummy tuck. Recovery is slightly longer with abdominal muscle repair. Discomfort after surgery is typically minimal because we use advanced pain-control options such as EXPAREL®, a meticulous surgical technique, and careful drain management to minimize discomfort and swelling.

General Recovery Timeline

Day of surgery: Return home in the care of an adult.

2 days: Okay to remove your surgical garments (with help) and shower.

1 to 3 days: Expect swelling, bruising, and tenderness around incisions.

3 to 5 days: EXPAREL wears off. Drains removed.

2 to 3 weeks: Ready to resume nonstrenuous work and exercise. Easier to stand up straight.

4 weeks: Ready to stop wearing your compression garment.

5 to 6 weeks: Restrictions on lifting and exercise end, with doctor approval.

6 to 12 months: Scars flatten and fade.

Once recovered, tummy tuck results should last indefinitely if you don’t gain significant weight or have more children. Pregnancy and weight fluctuation can both compromise the results of a tummy tuck.

Back view of a real Wall Center patient in a white bikini seated at a pool, showing a toned back and waistline in natural outdoor light

Recovery Tips

Arrange for a trusted adult to drive you home and help you for at least the first week. Plan on having someone help you sit, stand, put on and take off your compression garment, and just about any other activity during the first 4 or 5 days. If you have young children at home, you won’t be able to lift them during the first 10 days after surgery.
Stand slightly hunched forward at the shoulders, not the waist, for about 1 to 2 weeks because of tightness across the abdomen and to avoid tension on the surgical area and incision.
Stand up and move around a few times a day to increase circulation and to prevent blood clots.
Sleep in a recliner or propped up with pillows for the first few weeks.

Learn more about recovering from a tummy tuck by watching our tummy tuck aftercare videos.

Personalized Combinations for Dramatic Results

Because the midsection plays a central role in the body’s overall shape, many patients choose to combine a tummy tuck with other procedures for more extensive results.

Our surgeons frequently perform abdominoplasty as part of a Mommy Makeover, pairing it with procedures such as a breast lift with implants, SAFELipo®, labiaplasty, and fat transfer for full-body rejuvenation.

Patients who have lost significant weight often benefit from complementary contouring procedures such as an arm lift, thigh lift, or buttock lift to remove lax skin and create a more sculpted appearance.

Why Combine Procedures?

Addressing multiple areas in one surgical setting offers a variety of advantages over staging procedures separately, including:

Achieving smoother, more balanced proportions
Minimizing surgical time, exposure to anesthesia, and overall cost
Reducing the total recovery time

While combining procedures is more complex, our surgeons are experienced in doing so while maintaining the highest standards of safety and precision.

Tummy Tuck FAQ

How do I know if I need a tummy tuck or just liposuction?: A tummy tuck is best for women and men with sagging skin, stretch marks, rolls, and a protruding belly caused by separated abdominal muscles. These characteristics are common after pregnancy and massive weight loss. Liposuction can be a good option for individuals with firm, elastic abdominal skin whose concerns are caused by isolated areas of fat.
Is liposuction better than a tummy tuck?: It depends on what is causing your concerns. A tummy tuck addresses lax skin, stretch marks, rolls, and a protruding belly caused by separated abdominal muscles. Liposuction is a fat removal procedure, making it a good option if you have excess belly fat and firm, elastic abdominal skin.
Does a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?: A tummy tuck usually gets rid of at least some abdominal stretch marks. A great deal of excess skin is removed during a tummy tuck, and stretch marks along with it. If you have stretch marks on the remaining skin, they may flatten and fade when this skin is pulled taut during the procedure.
Will I get a new belly button as part of an abdominoplasty?: The belly button is revised during a full tummy tuck procedure, but not during a mini tummy tuck. The surgeon makes an incision around the belly button to release it from the overlying skin. When the skin is pulled down and re-draped, the surgeon makes a new opening for the navel. At this time, they can shape and refine your belly button to look attractive and natural.
How long does a tummy tuck last?: Tummy tuck results should last indefinitely if you do not gain a significant amount of weight or have more children. Pregnancy and weight fluctuation can both compromise the results of a tummy tuck.
How many dress sizes will I lose with tummy tuck surgery?: Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight loss procedure. However, once excess skin and fat are removed and the abdominal muscles are repaired, some patients may find they fit more comfortably into clothing and may drop a size or two. Results vary based on body type and starting anatomy.

Simeon Wall Jr., MD, FACS, Holly Casey Wall, MD, FACS, and Seth Fruge, MD standing together

Let’s Talk About Your Tummy Tuck

The team at The Wall Center looks forward to helping you understand your tummy tuck options. Request a consultation at our Shreveport, LA, practice, or call us at (318) 795-0801 to schedule your appointment.

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We're Worth the Trip

Patients come from all across Ark-La-Tex and around the globe to receive world-class care at The Wall Center for Plastic Surgery and Jade MediSpa. We frequently see patients from many communities:

Dallas, TX
Texarkana, TX & AR
Minden, LA
Lafayette, LA
Tyler, TX
Little Rock, AR

Monroe, LA
New Orleans, LA
Longview, TX
Natchitoches, LA
Nacogdoches, TX
Jackson, MS

Lake Charles, LA
Marshall, TX
Alexandria, LA
Baton Rouge, LA
Houston, TX

Take the first step today and request a consultation or call (318) 795-0801. Ask about our special programs for patients who travel, including our beautiful on-site guest suites. We can't wait to greet you!