Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesAppearanceNonsurgical OptionsSurgical OptionsBody Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Appearance
Nonsurgical Options
Surgical Options
Body Care
“Apron belly” is a term commonly used to describe a sagging stomach with excess skin and fatty tissue that hangs from the abdomen. It is medically known as apannusstomach or an abdominal pannus. This skin flap can appear after pregnancy, excessive weight gain, or significant weight loss.
Sometimes pannus stomach causes discomfort and skin infections. Living comfortably with your pannus stomach, including nonsurgical options for coping with and possibly reducing it, can help keep you physically healthy and avoid stress about your appearance.
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Pannus stomach occurs when an excess of skin hangs down from the abdomen as a result of:
FUPA vs. Apron Belly
What Does a Pannus Stomach Look Like?
A pannus is a flap or pouch of skin and tissue that hangs off the abdomen. The tissue folds over the pelvis, hanging much like an apron does.
The size of a pannus stomach can vary widely. An abdominal pannus is diagnosed when a flap of skin reaches the pubic hairline. Some apron bellies cover the entire genitals, and a large pannus stomach can even reach to a person’s knees or beyond.
How a Pannus Stomach Affects the Skin
There also are physical impacts to a pannus stomach. By hanging over the skin of the lower abdomen and pelvis, a pannus stomach creates a skinfold where skin rubs together.
Can Nonsurgical Options Get Rid of a Pannus Stomach?
There is no way to lose weight in a specific body part, such as the belly.Eating healthyandmoving your bodyis always important for overall health, but they can’t necessarily target one area of the body.
Some people find that strengthening their core muscles can help the appearance of a pannus stomach. There’s no scientific evidence to support this, but there is a benefit toengaging your core musclesin exercise.
There are also skin tightening techniques that use laser or non-invasive radiofrequency. These techniques may be effective for areas like the face and under the chin but are not typically used for excess sagging skin such as apron belly.
Apron Belly Surgery
The only surefire way to get rid of a pannus stomach is through surgery. If your pannus stomach is having a negative impact on your life—affecting your mobility or leading to recurrent skin infections—your healthcare provider might recommend apanniculectomy. This surgery removes the pannus, or sagging skin.
A panniculectomy is major surgery performed under general anesthesia. Most people are out of work for about four weeks after the surgery, and it can take up to three months for the wounds to heal and the swelling to go away.
Insurance will often cover the surgery if it’s deemed medically necessary. If there is no medical need for the panniculectomy, you may have to pay out of pocket for the procedure.
Keep in mind that a panniculectomy can lead to scarring. One study found patients who underwent the surgery were self-conscious about their scars during the first year post-surgery but had improved body confidence beyond the first year.
Another study found doing bariatric surgery at younger ages and reducing BMI as much as possible before bariatric surgery may decrease panniculectomy-related complications complications.
Taking Care of Your Body
Although many people want to eliminate their pannus stomach, it can be difficult. Since you can’t target fat loss in your belly, consider other ways to reduce your discomfort and your pannus stomach’s impact on your life.
Some trial and error may be needed to determine the best care for the pannus.
If the appearance of your pannus stomach causes stress, look for high-rise underwear and body shapers that make you more confident in your appearance. Keep in mind that a pannus stomach is just another body type—not something that needs to be hidden.
Summary
A pannus stomach is a flap of skin that hangs from the abdomen over the pelvis or even lower. It can occur with obesity and after major weight loss or pregnancy. A pannus stomach can lead to emotional distress, impact body confidence, increase the risk for rashes and other skin conditions, and even make it difficult to walk in severe cases.
There are no diets or exercises that can directly target a pannus stomach. Overall weight loss and exercise may help, as can learning to properly care for your pannus stomach. Talcum powder, tummy liners, shapewear, and high-rise underwear may help you stay more comfortable, physically and emotionally.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.Abdominal obesity and your health.Elander A, Biörserud C, Fagevik Olsén M.Excess skin after weight loss following bariatric surgery: focus on the abdomen. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 May;17(5):986-993. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.005Chung CW, Kling RE, Sivak WN, et al.Risk factors for pannus formation in the post-bariatric surgery population. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 May;133(5):623e-627e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000000101UCSF Health.Panniculectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.8 ways to lose belly fat and live a healthier life.Kania B, Goldberg DJ. Cryolipolysis:A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Nov;22 Suppl 3:1-7. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16039MedlinePlus.Panniculectomy. National Library of Medicine.Gilmartin J, Long AF, Soldin M.Changing body image and well-being: following the experience of massive weight loss and body contouring surgery. Healthcare (Basel). 2014;2(2):150-165. doi:10.3390/healthcare2020150Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Kinney BS.Intertrigo and secondary skin infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 1;89(7):569-73. PMID: 24695603.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.Abdominal obesity and your health.Elander A, Biörserud C, Fagevik Olsén M.Excess skin after weight loss following bariatric surgery: focus on the abdomen. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 May;17(5):986-993. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.005Chung CW, Kling RE, Sivak WN, et al.Risk factors for pannus formation in the post-bariatric surgery population. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 May;133(5):623e-627e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000000101UCSF Health.Panniculectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.8 ways to lose belly fat and live a healthier life.Kania B, Goldberg DJ. Cryolipolysis:A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Nov;22 Suppl 3:1-7. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16039MedlinePlus.Panniculectomy. National Library of Medicine.Gilmartin J, Long AF, Soldin M.Changing body image and well-being: following the experience of massive weight loss and body contouring surgery. Healthcare (Basel). 2014;2(2):150-165. doi:10.3390/healthcare2020150Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Kinney BS.Intertrigo and secondary skin infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 1;89(7):569-73. PMID: 24695603.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Medical School.Abdominal obesity and your health.Elander A, Biörserud C, Fagevik Olsén M.Excess skin after weight loss following bariatric surgery: focus on the abdomen. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 May;17(5):986-993. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.005Chung CW, Kling RE, Sivak WN, et al.Risk factors for pannus formation in the post-bariatric surgery population. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 May;133(5):623e-627e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000000101UCSF Health.Panniculectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.8 ways to lose belly fat and live a healthier life.Kania B, Goldberg DJ. Cryolipolysis:A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Nov;22 Suppl 3:1-7. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16039MedlinePlus.Panniculectomy. National Library of Medicine.Gilmartin J, Long AF, Soldin M.Changing body image and well-being: following the experience of massive weight loss and body contouring surgery. Healthcare (Basel). 2014;2(2):150-165. doi:10.3390/healthcare2020150Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Kinney BS.Intertrigo and secondary skin infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 1;89(7):569-73. PMID: 24695603.
Harvard Medical School.Abdominal obesity and your health.
Elander A, Biörserud C, Fagevik Olsén M.Excess skin after weight loss following bariatric surgery: focus on the abdomen. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 May;17(5):986-993. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.01.005
Chung CW, Kling RE, Sivak WN, et al.Risk factors for pannus formation in the post-bariatric surgery population. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 May;133(5):623e-627e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000000101
UCSF Health.Panniculectomy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.8 ways to lose belly fat and live a healthier life.
Kania B, Goldberg DJ. Cryolipolysis:A promising nonsurgical technique for localized fat reduction. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Nov;22 Suppl 3:1-7. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16039
MedlinePlus.Panniculectomy. National Library of Medicine.
Gilmartin J, Long AF, Soldin M.Changing body image and well-being: following the experience of massive weight loss and body contouring surgery. Healthcare (Basel). 2014;2(2):150-165. doi:10.3390/healthcare2020150
Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Kinney BS.Intertrigo and secondary skin infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 1;89(7):569-73. PMID: 24695603.
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