A hanging belly often referred to as a pooch, abdominal sag, stomach overhang, pannus or apron belly but medically known as abdominal panniculus can be a common concern for many people.
The causes of a hanging belly will vary from person to person, typical factors include pregnancy, weight fluctuation, ageing and medical conditions.
A stomach overhang can be difficult to reduce with diet and exercise as it is typically excess skin which leaves many seeking surgical intervention to help reshape their body.
Do I have a hanging belly?
Excess fat causing a protruding belly is not always a true hanging belly. A medically defined pannus stomach is when excess fat and skin hang down like an apron from your abdomen.
The severity of a hanging belly can vary with some hanging down to the pubic area or to the thighs or knees.
What causes stomach or belly overhang?
The cause of your stomach or belly hang can often determine which treatment is going to be most suitable for you to achieve the best results.
- Weight Gain – When excess weight accumulates in the stomach area causing stomach and belly overhang.
- Weight Loss – Whilst losing a significant amount of weight will reduce fat in the area, the skin can remain stretched causing an overhang.
- Pregnancy – Carrying a baby can result in the abdominal muscles stretching or separating (diastasis recti) which can cause belly overhang.
- Ageing – As we age, our muscles weaken and skin loses its elasticity which causes sagging which can affect the entire body including the stomach.
- Medical Conditions – Hormonal conditions can cause changes to the body and can lead to excess fat being stored in the abdominal area which can contribute to a hanging belly.
Stomach overhang can be a significant source of concern for anyone. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce or perhaps eliminate stomach overhang with our range of treatment options available at The Private Clinic.
How to get rid of a hanging belly?
Before considering any type of treatment for a hanging belly, it is important that you are as close to your ideal weight as possible. Many surgical options have maximum BMI criteria that you must meet before being medically approved as fit for surgery.
You are also more likely to maintain your results if you are already following a healthy lifestyle.
Counting calories, regular exercise, a healthy diet and reducing stress are all great ways to increase fat loss.
It might be time to think about surgery if you have been trying to reduce your stomach overhang for a long time and you aren’t seeing the desired results.
Abdominoplasty for Hanging Stomach
An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure will often be the best method for removing a hanging belly. This is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic. The procedure will remove both excess fat and skin from the abdomen creating a flatter stomach. The procedure can also include muscle tightening for diastasis recti if required.
Our expert abdominoplasty surgeons are able to offer a wide portfolio of abdominoplasty procedures, including the standard tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, Brazilian tummy tuck and extended tummy tuck.
See more tummy tuck before and after photos
Panniculectomy for Hanging Stomach
In more severe cases, a Panniculectomy may be recommended [1]. This procedure is for a hanging belly that distends over the abdomen, genitals, and thighs. The focus of this procedure is to remove excess loose skin and fat rather than reshaping the entire abdominal area like a full abdominoplasty procedure would. In many cases, an abdominoplasty procedure is combined with a panniculectomy to treat the entire area.
CoolSculpting for a Hanging Stomach
CoolSculpting could be a great non-surgical option, but it is recommended that patients are as close to their ideal weight as possible. Whilst CoolSculpting is a fat reduction treatment, it is not a weight loss solution and can only be used to treat small areas of stubborn fat cells that have been resistant to diet and exercise alone. CoolSculpting will not help with reducing or tightening excess skin.
See more CoolSculpting before and after photos
Liposuction for Hanging Stomach
Liposuction or Vaser Lipo alone can be effective in reducing the prominence of a hanging stomach but the procedure is only effective at reducing excess fat rather than excess skin.
It would be best to discuss if Liposuction was a suitable treatment option with your surgeon or doctor. Our team of Consultant Plastic Surgeons and Liposuction Doctors have decades of experience and will be able to provide their expert and honest advice.
Why choose The Private Clinic?
Selecting the best clinic for your abdominoplasty, or any other body sculpting treatment, is an important choice that will affect the appearance of your body and your well-being. There are several reasons why The Private Clinic is unique among leaders in the industry.
Expert advice
The Private Clinic has been in the cosmetic surgery industry for over 40 years. We have leading tummy tuck surgeons with decades of experience performing successful abdominoplasties and body contouring surgeries. Our surgeons create individualised treatment plans with a profound awareness of anatomical and cosmetic details to produce exceptional outcomes that are customised just for you.
Outstanding care
All patients will receive a high level of dedicated care with their expert surgeon and nursing team before, during and long after every procedure. Our aftercare promise means we are always contactable with a 24 hour helpline to ensure you are always in the best of hands.
Patient Satisfaction
We have one of the highest TrustPilot 5 star ratings due to our focus on patient care and quality results. 98% of our patients would recommend us to their friends and family.
Book a consultation
Get the results you want with our tummy hang specialists, get in touch to find out more about how we can help by calling 0333 920 2471 or using ouronline contact form.
