What can cause an apron belly and how to get rid of it?

An apron belly or pannus stomach is a stomach that hangs down from the abdomen, resembling an apron. It can vary in size and length from a small stomach that slightly overhangs to a long one that reaches the area of the pelvis or even the knees.

There are three possible causes of an apron belly:

• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Significant weight loss

Luckily, regardless of the cause, it’s possible to get rid of an apron belly. For more prominent bellies, there are invasive treatments – abdominoplasty (for removing the belly and recovering weak and separated muscles) and panniculectomy (only for removing excess skin and fat). Also, there are noninvasive procedures using laser, radiofrequency energy, freezing temperatures, or ultrasound for smaller bellies.

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An apron belly, medically known as a pannus stomach or abdominal pannus, is a term used to describe a type of belly that hangs down from the abdomen, looking like you are wearing an apron. It commonly occurs after pregnancy or significant weight changes due to the excess skin. Skin that was stretched due to increased fat deposits (or belly growth in pregnancy) may not return to its usual state and hang down instead. The length and size of this apron can vary depending on a variety of factors.

Although it’s not rare or unusual in certain cases, of course, a pannus stomach can cause a lot of emotional distress to a woman. Moreover, unlike other belly types, it can also cause physical discomfort and be harder to deal with.

In this article, we’ll review the common causes of an apron belly and possible ways to reduce it without surgery.

3 Causes of an Apron Belly

If you want to know how to get rid of apron belly, it’s important to understand that it can be caused by a few different things, which can affect the size of an apron and how hard it will be to get rid of it.

Generally, there are three main causes:

1. Pregnancy

In pregnancy, the uterus stretches significantly from the size of a lemon to the size of a large watermelon. The specific point to which your uterus can stretch is determined by genetics and the size of a baby.

Clearly, your stomach, with all the muscles and skin, also stretches as the baby grows. As a result, after giving birth, many women still have stretched skin and weakened, separated abdominal muscles. This can create an apron belly, which is often called a mother’s apron.

2. Obesity

People with obesity accumulate excessive fat in different areas of the body, with most of it stored in the abdominal area. Increasing fat deposits put additional pressure on the skin, which frequently causes it to stretch and start hanging down, creating an apron belly.

The size and prominence of a pannus stomach can vary drastically depending on the class of obesity.

3. Fast and Significant Weight Loss

Lastly, an apron belly can also result from weight loss. When a person has too much excess weight or is obese, their skin might already be stretched out because of a high percentage of fat. In this case, when they drop a lot of weight, the overstretched skin might not be able to get back to its usual condition. This can result in an apron belly.

Although this cause can affect anyone who loses a lot of weight, it’s particularly common in situations with rapid weight loss. In particular, a pannus belly is a common side effect of a bariatric surgery, frequently used to treat severe obesity cases. That’s why it’s rather common to have body contouring procedures after bariatric surgery to get rid of excess abdominal skin.

Potential Complications of a Pannus Stomach

Often, women who are facing this issue start wondering how to get rid of apron belly for aesthetic reasons. Indeed, having excess skin and fat hanging down from the abdomen can significantly affect one’s body image and self-esteem. It can lead to ongoing stress and even result in anxiety or depression. However, this isn’t the only reason to get rid of an apron belly.

Another reason that might be there is physical discomfort. Depending on the size and length of excess skin, an apron belly can interfere with your daily activities by causing back pain and reducing mobility.

Apart from mental distress and physical discomfort, a pannus stomach can also have a number of possible health complications, including:

• Skin ulcers
• Bacterial skin infection
• Fungal skin infection
• Skinfold dermatitis

How to Get Rid of Apron Belly

If you’ve already faced the issue and are now wondering how to lose apron belly, there are three treatment types:

• Abdominoplasty – This surgery is also known as a tummy tuck. During it, a surgeon removes excess fat and skin and repairs separated abdominal muscles. This surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The initial recovery period is between 2 and 3 weeks. However, women who have abdominoplasty usually have to limit high-impact physical activity for 4-10 weeks post-surgery. And full healing typically takes around one year.
• Panniculectomy – This is another surgical treatment. During this surgery, a professional removes the excess skin and fat, but without repairing weakened abdominal muscles. That is, if there is a diastasis recti, you will also need to perform simultaneous abdominoplasty to fix it. Panniculectomy is typically performed under general anesthesia. The initial recovery period is up to 4 weeks, and full healing takes up to 2 years.
• Noninvasive body contouring – If you are wondering how to get rid of apron belly without surgery, there is one more treatment option to consider. There are several types of noninvasive body contouring procedures that eliminate excess fat and, in some cases, tighten skin. The most common procedures use laser, radiofrequency energy, freezing temperatures, or ultrasound to impact fat cells and break them down. This treatment can work for women with smaller pannus bellies.

Skin Care and Lifestyle Tips for Managing an Apron Belly

A pannus stomach can cause certain physical discomfort and lead to a variety of skin conditions, such as infections, ulcers, and others. To prevent them, it’s important to set up the right skincare routine and stick to it before you receive the chosen type of treatment.

Here are several practical tips on how to take care of your belly:

• Keep your skinfold clean at all times and inspect it regularly to notice any skin damage.
• Choose a gentle, pH-neutral body wash to clean the skinfold.
• Meticulously dry the skinfold after washing. But don’t rub it to prevent damage.
• Use talc-free powders and antifungal creams to prevent complications.
• Consider using support bands or tummy liners to hold your apron belly and reduce friction. But be sure to consult with a healthcare provider first.

Apart from taking proper care of your stomach, it’s also important to implement basic lifestyle changes to reduce your belly and support muscle restoration. There are two main tips to follow:

• Adhere to a healthy diet. Whether you have an apron belly after weight loss or pregnancy, gaining more weight can further stretch your skin and worsen it. To prevent this, you need to maintain a healthy calorie deficit and focus on whole, balanced foods. Opt for low-calorie meals instead of processed and sugary foods to reduce the amount of fat and prevent your belly from growing in size and length.
• Exercise more to support your core muscles. There are many simple exercises for a flat stomach that will help you strengthen your abdominal wall and reduce the appearance of an apron belly. Regular exercise is also important for treating diastasis recti after pregnancy. However, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider to prevent further damage to your muscles.

FAQ

What is an apron belly?

An apron belly or a pannus stomach is a belly that hangs down from the abdomen. It often looks like you are wearing an apron, hence the name. This phenomenon usually occurs due to excessive skin, frequently caused by belly growth in pregnancy or high fat deposits in obesity. And it can also appear after a significant and rapid weight loss if the skin didn’t have time to return to its normal state.

What is the size of an average apron belly?

The size of a pannus stomach can vary drastically from a belly that just slightly overhangs from the abdomen to a large belly that hangs below the pelvis. Sometimes, the length of an apron belly can reach a person’s knees.

How to get rid of hanging belly?

There are three common treatment options. Abdominoplasty and panniculectomy are surgical solutions that can help get rid of even a significant apron belly. Abdominoplasty is used to remove excess skin and fat while also fixing separated abdominal muscles, and panniculectomy only removes a pannus belly. For women with a small apron belly, there is a choice of noninvasive body contouring procedures, using laser, radiofrequency energy, freezing temperatures, or ultrasound.

Conclusion

Getting a pannus stomach can be very distressful. It can affect your body image and cause physical discomfort. Not to mention the possible skin-related complications that can appear if you don’t take proper care of your tummy.

After reading this article, you should have a better idea of why an apron belly appears, what complications are associated with it, and how to lose apron belly. Use the tips we shared with you here to maintain your health and find optimal management and treatment options that will help you recover your body!

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