In cases of significant weight loss or post-pregnancy, the skin on the lower abdomen hangs in excess, sagging out. This sagging of skin appears as an apron, which in common language is known as an apron belly.
It can also be referred to as the pannus stomach or mother’s apron. In most cases, excess fat and skin are difficult to remove despite regular exercise regimes and physical activities.
In addition to having cosmetic implications, the condition also poses risks to physical well-being and emotional health.
In this post, we will explore the root cause of apron belly, its negative impact on health, and the effective treatment that could help you overcome the condition. Shedding the excess weight will not only enhance health but also boost confidence.
How Does Apron Belly Occur?
Apron Belly can have different causes,
- In women, pregnancy stretches the skin around the stomach. Post-pregnancy, the excessive skin doesn’t retract and causes the abdominal muscles to sag.
- Excessive weight fluctuations in both men and women could result in the formation of flap skin in the abdominal area, which appears as a fat apron.
- Surgical procedures for weight loss, like gastric bypass surgery, can also lead to saggy abdominal muscles, causing a pannus stomach.
- The aging process can also result in an apron belly. As you age, the skin loses its elasticity and overstretches, causing an apron belly.
- Genetic factors can also be the reason for the pannus stomach. Genetics could result in weak connective tissues that can promote the formation of an apron belly.
What are the health risks of an apron belly?
Apron belly poses several health risks,
- Apron belly significantly increases the risk of certain types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, in women, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
- Apron bellies can also lead to cardiovascular issues and type 2 diabetes.
- Apron belly can also cause dermatological problems. Lying of skin on the skin creates a damp chamber, which is prone to fungal infections and inflammation. Likewise, friction between the skin can create open and painful sores.
Can Fat Apron Occur After Weight Loss?
People suffering from obesity and on a strict diet and exercise regime to lose weight worry often about the apron belly. Yes, an apron belly can indeed occur after weight loss, but it is dictated by several factors.
As a rule of thumb, the more excess weight or weight loss, the greater the possibility of an apron belly. However, experts also claim that whether a fat apron will occur or not after weight loss also depends on the person’s age and the skin’s elasticity and regression capability.
Preventive Solutions: Is it possible to prevent an apron belly?
It largely depends on your weight; if it’s not too much before you begin a diet and exercise regime, there’s a good chance that you can prevent an apron belly from occurring in the first place.
Muscle training, exercise, massages, and sports can help hold the muscles tightly around your abdomen after weight loss.
However, if you were too obese and lost a significant chunk of your body weight, exercise and training alone usually don’t bring positive results. It’s because the tissue structure is already altered due to overstretching.
Likewise, if you have weak connective tissues, exercise again won’t do much good for you; in all these cases, surgical intervention is the only solution to achieving a flat and toned abdomen.
Does exercise help prevent an apron belly after pregnancy?
Apron belly is a big concern for pregnant women. Panniculus is a common occurrence after pregnancy, especially in overweight women. In such cases, a good diet coupled with a specialized training program can indeed help to reduce fat apron to some extent.
However, training away the apron belly completely is quite daunting and impossible in some cases. Factors such as a woman’s age, weight, skin condition, diet, and nutrition all play a role here.
However, know that it’s not always possible to rectify an apron belly with exercise and diet alone after pregnancy; if it’s impacting your quality of life, seeking surgical intervention is the best approach.
Surgical Solution: When should you consider surgery?
Apron belly can be resolved completely with surgery; however, most experts only recommend going down that route when conservative measures have all failed to rectify the situation and the condition is seriously impairing the quality of life.
It is important that before the operation, all non-surgical options have been exhausted, such as exercise and dietary measures.
Apron Belly Surgery Treatment
| Procedure | Panniculectomy |
| Operation Duration | 3 hours, approx |
| Hospital Stay | 1–2 days |
| Surgery Cost | $8500-$15,000 |
| Recovery Time | 7–14 days |
| Rigorous Activities like Sports | 6 to 8 weeks |
What happens during apron belly surgery?
- Doctors will recommend that you maintain a stable weight for at least six months.
- During fat apron resection, the surgeon will make a round incision and separate the belly button from the skin tissue.
- The doctor will then remove the excess skin, reposition the belly button, and then stitch the skin together.
- You will recover and be able to go back to work after two weeks.
What are the risks involved in apron belly surgery?
Under the care of an experienced surgeon, a panniculectomy is generally a safe procedure; however, it does carry certain risks. Your doctor will tell you about the complications that might appear during or after the operation.
- Severe bleeding
- Infections
- Wound healing issues
- Sensory disturbance
- Scars
- Damage or injury to internal organs
It is advisable to discuss everything with your doctor before undergoing the pannus removal surgery. In any case, your doctor only recommends panniculectomy when the benefits far exceed the risks involved.
Conclusion
Apron belly occurs when the skin can’t retract after a significant weight loss owing to pregnancy, dieting, or exercise. It’s a common occurrence, but it could severely impact the quality of life.
A big apron belly could be a hindrance to walking and performing other daily routines. Conservative measures like exercise, massages, and a healthy diet can help relieve the condition to some extent.
However, surgery is the only effective option to get rid of the apron belly completely. With surgery, you can once again achieve a toned abdomen with tight skin.
References:
- Hruby A. (2016). The epidemiology of obesity: A big picture. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs40273-014-0243-x - Sachs D, et al. (2020). Panniculectomy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499822/ - Rosa SC, Macedo JLS, Canedo LR, Casulari LA. Quality of life and predictive factors for complications in patients undergoing abdominoplasty after gastric bypass: A retrospective cohort. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Mar;15(3):447-455.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30718107/
