Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWeight LossExercisesProceduresSurgical Recovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Weight Loss
Exercises
Procedures
Surgical Recovery
The desire to lose fat in the upper pubic area (FUPA) is common. Reducing the size and improving the appearance of FUPA can typically be achieved with a combination of diet and exercise, but can sometimes involve cosmetic procedures.
This area is also called themons pubisorpanniculus. Men and women both have a mons pubis. Fat can accumulate in the upper pubic area after weight loss or weight gain, giving the appearance of an extra layer of skin and fat just above the pubis. People can also have a larger mons pubis due to genetics.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
What Causes Excess Fat in the Upper Pubic Area?People who are at a normal weight or even underweight can have fat deposits in the mons pubis because of their genetic makeup. A larger mons pubis can also develop due to weight gain. As a result, the skin of this area can become lax and begin to sag.FUPA may only become noticeable after an abdomen-flattening surgery (e.g., a tummy tuck or liposuction). Post-procedure, the pubic area can also look larger temporarily because gravity pulls swelling down from the abdomen to the mons pubis.
What Causes Excess Fat in the Upper Pubic Area?
People who are at a normal weight or even underweight can have fat deposits in the mons pubis because of their genetic makeup. A larger mons pubis can also develop due to weight gain. As a result, the skin of this area can become lax and begin to sag.FUPA may only become noticeable after an abdomen-flattening surgery (e.g., a tummy tuck or liposuction). Post-procedure, the pubic area can also look larger temporarily because gravity pulls swelling down from the abdomen to the mons pubis.
People who are at a normal weight or even underweight can have fat deposits in the mons pubis because of their genetic makeup. A larger mons pubis can also develop due to weight gain. As a result, the skin of this area can become lax and begin to sag.
FUPA may only become noticeable after an abdomen-flattening surgery (e.g., a tummy tuck or liposuction). Post-procedure, the pubic area can also look larger temporarily because gravity pulls swelling down from the abdomen to the mons pubis.
Lifestyle Changes
An overall healthy diet and exercise are the best ways to reduce excess pubic fat.
Examples of diets that people may consider trying include:
You don’t have to be on a particular diet to lose excess pubic fat. Having an overall nutritious diet that supplies the calories you need can help reduce mons pubis fat—especially when paired with physical activity and exercise.
Can You Target Weight Loss to a Particular Area of the Body?Targeted weight loss, or spot reduction, is a myth. No exercise routine or diet protocol can restrict fat loss to a single area of the body.If you are interested in reducing FUPA specifically and exclusively, cosmetic procedures or surgery are likely the best methods to explore.
Can You Target Weight Loss to a Particular Area of the Body?
Targeted weight loss, or spot reduction, is a myth. No exercise routine or diet protocol can restrict fat loss to a single area of the body.If you are interested in reducing FUPA specifically and exclusively, cosmetic procedures or surgery are likely the best methods to explore.
One of the most efficient ways to reduce excess fat in the upper pubic area is exercise. It’s not possible to reduce fat in a specific area of the body but general cardio and strength training can be helpful.
Forearm Plank
PeopleImages / Getty Images
The forearm plank is a great core exercise. It engages your stomach area as well as your back, legs, and arms. Here’s how to perform a forearm plank:
Bicycle Crunches
Antonio_Diaz / Getty Images
Bicycle crunches activate your abdominal muscles and improve your conditioning and coordination. Here’s how to perform bicycle crunches:
Leg Raises
Khosrork / Getty Images
Leg raises work the core muscles and hip flexors. Here’s how to perform a leg raise:
Bridges
TheLux / Getty Images
The bridge is a great lower-body exercise that strengthens your abs, glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps. Here’s how to perform a bridge:
Westend61/Getty Images
The Hundred
The hundred (aPilates exercise) helps strengthen core muscles:
Cosmetic Procedures and Surgery
If you’re not seeing improvement with weight loss and exercise, there are non-surgical and surgical procedures for removing mons pubis fat.
Non-Surgical Methods
Some of the common non-surgical methods for reducing fat in the upper pubic area include:
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can be done underlocal anesthesiato reduce excess fat in the upper pubic area. It can be very effective, especially if the skin of the mons pubis has good elasticity.
However, liposuction of the mons pubis can make already-loose skin in the pubic area even looser because sagging can occur when the fat is removed.
Monsplasty
If liposuction does not reduce the mons pubis enough, a monsplasty (pubic lift) is another option. During a monsplasty, both extra skin and excess fat are surgically removed. This reduces the bulge and lifts the area.
Monsplasty requires an incision which means therewill be a scarsimilar to a C-section scar. A pubic lift can also be done when the pubic area has been stretched out after pregnancy or from age-related skin changes.
Reduction Procedures for Men
While women might be more likely to seek surgery, men can also have excess fat in the mons pubis and may want to have it reduced.
Having extra fat in this area can make thepenis appear much smallerthan it actually is. If this is causing distress, liposuction with or without monsplasty can treat excess fat in the upper pubic area in men.
Recovery From Upper Pubic Area Surgery
Whichever mons pubis procedure you have, there will be swelling during your recovery.The swelling can extend down to the labia or scrotum.
Bruising is also not uncommon after mons pubis surgery but usually resolves after two to three weeks. Swelling can take longer to improve and may not go away for three to four months after surgery.
Possible Complications of Surgery
Any surgery has risks, and complications are possible after a monsplasty.
Hematoma, seroma,deep vein thrombosis,pulmonary embolism, delayed wound healing,wound separation,skin necrosis, andwound infectionare some of the possible complications that can occur after surgery that’s done to contour the pubic area.
Summary
Having excess mons pubis fat is normal, but there are ways to reduce fat in this part of your body if it bothers you. Being mindful about your diet and adding exercise to your routine can help you lose mons pubis fat.
If lifestyle changes aren’t providing results, you could consider talking to your healthcare provider about non-surgical and surgical treatments.
4 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.Kordi R, Dehghani S, Noormohammadpour P, Rostami M, Mansournia MA.Effect of abdominal resistance exercise on abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese women: a randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging assessments.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(3):203-209. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.12.004Bykowski MR, Rubin JP, Gusenoff JA.The impact of abdominal contouring with monsplasty on sexual function and urogenital distress in women following massive weight loss.Aesthet Surg J. 2017;37(1):63-70. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw144Sattler DR, Altmann S, Infanger M, et al.Genital reconstruction after weight loss in adipose male patients: A case report.Eplasty. 2014;14:e14.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is monsplasty?
4 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.Kordi R, Dehghani S, Noormohammadpour P, Rostami M, Mansournia MA.Effect of abdominal resistance exercise on abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese women: a randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging assessments.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(3):203-209. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.12.004Bykowski MR, Rubin JP, Gusenoff JA.The impact of abdominal contouring with monsplasty on sexual function and urogenital distress in women following massive weight loss.Aesthet Surg J. 2017;37(1):63-70. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw144Sattler DR, Altmann S, Infanger M, et al.Genital reconstruction after weight loss in adipose male patients: A case report.Eplasty. 2014;14:e14.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is monsplasty?
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.
Kordi R, Dehghani S, Noormohammadpour P, Rostami M, Mansournia MA.Effect of abdominal resistance exercise on abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese women: a randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging assessments.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(3):203-209. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.12.004Bykowski MR, Rubin JP, Gusenoff JA.The impact of abdominal contouring with monsplasty on sexual function and urogenital distress in women following massive weight loss.Aesthet Surg J. 2017;37(1):63-70. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw144Sattler DR, Altmann S, Infanger M, et al.Genital reconstruction after weight loss in adipose male patients: A case report.Eplasty. 2014;14:e14.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is monsplasty?
Kordi R, Dehghani S, Noormohammadpour P, Rostami M, Mansournia MA.Effect of abdominal resistance exercise on abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese women: a randomized controlled trial using ultrasound imaging assessments.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(3):203-209. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.12.004
Bykowski MR, Rubin JP, Gusenoff JA.The impact of abdominal contouring with monsplasty on sexual function and urogenital distress in women following massive weight loss.Aesthet Surg J. 2017;37(1):63-70. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw144
Sattler DR, Altmann S, Infanger M, et al.Genital reconstruction after weight loss in adipose male patients: A case report.Eplasty. 2014;14:e14.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.What is monsplasty?
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
