The apron belly, otherwise called the Pannus stomach or mother’s apron is a flap of excess fat and tissue that hangs just below the abdomen. Usually, an apron belly is common among women who are plus-size, those that have lost weight, or women that have had many babies. Likewise men who have lost weight can also experience this, or anyone that is overweight.
If you have an apron belly that makes you feel embarrassed or ashamed, these apron belly support tips and every other thing you need to know about how to get rid of apron belly will help you to regain your self-confidence.
How Do I Hide My Apron Belly?
Since apron belly doesn’t just appear in a day, it might also take a while for you to get rid of it – it could take weeks or even months.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon or other publishers I trust (at no extra cost to you). See disclosure for details.
The following tips will help you hide your apron belly while you work on getting rid of it:
Wear Compression Garments
This shapewear will help to smoothen and flatten the belly flap. While this does not eliminate it – it helps you regain your self-confidence especially if you love wearing fitted clothing. A good example of a compression garment is the high waist underwear – it gives coverage brief while the top elastic band reaches the belly button and helps to smoothen the overlapping stomach.
Wear Free Flowing Garments
Loose clothes can help to hide the apron flap. An example of a free-flowing garment is the high-rise skirt and leggings used with an empire-waisted shirt.
Take The Attention Elsewhere On Your body
To do this, you can settle for tops that take the attention off your stomach. Good examples of this are cutouts. You can also choose garments that have print effects, this will help to create a camouflage effect on the flapping stomach.
Best Shapewear For Apron Belly Support
With the right shapewear, your lower belly pooch can be easily hidden, making you look great in clothing. Therefore, the following are the best shapewear for apron tummy control, check them out;
It is made with stretchable material that moves with the body while carrying out your activities. It offers comfortable apron belly support with its zipper and three rows of hooks. Also, it helps to hide bumps and bulges and offers full support for the back. However, it is not machine washable and may stretch out.
It is designed with broad lace that covers the thigh and buttocks which makes it nicely fit. The cotton spandex is porous, antibacterial, skin-friendly, and moisture-wicking. Also, it’s designed with a stretchable waistband that shows off your figure. However, it might become loose after some use.
This shapewear is designed with a u-shaped front and an anti-droop open bust which gives the chest a straighter form and a firmer armpit. It is made from nylon and latex which makes it sweat-free.
Shapermint High Waist Body Shaper
This high-waisted and stretchable body shaper is made from 90 percent nylon and 10 percent spandex which gives a nice appearance under any clothing. The fabric is breathable, lightweight, machine washable, and suitable for short dresses. However, it could roll up and stretch out after use.
Wide Abdominal Binder Belly Wrap
It provides some extra support for the abdomen by helping to hold together your excess abdominal fat. It can be used underneath or over your clothing. The Wide Abdominal binder belly wrap is latex-free, breathable, and helps to speed post-surgery recovery.Â
Other functions include; post Op binder, bariatric stomach compression, plus size hernia belt, and plus size postpartum belt.
Uriel Abdominal Belt for Hanging Belly
It offers the ideal support for a hanging belly, lower back muscles, and weak abdomen. Uriel’s abdominal belt is ideal for panniculus, postpartum recovery, pendulous abdomen, and excess stomach fat. It works by supporting the abdomen to reduce lower back pain in overweight, hernia, or bariatric cases.
It’s made of soft elastic material that won’t roll up after use. Besides, it offers comfort after a wide range of abdominal surgeries like liposuction, tummy tuck, gastroplasty, and c-section. Also, It supports postpartum moms and strengthens the abdominal muscles after delivery.
Women’s High Waisted Cotton Underwear
This machine-washable cotton underwear is suitable for postpartum recovery. It’s made from cotton and spandex which makes it offer a smooth, soft comfortable feel, and stretchable. So, it does not dig, roll, or slip – a perfect fit, especially after a c-section.
Exercises For Getting Rid Of Apron Belly
Eliminating the extra flap of skin requires some discipline and concerted efforts if you wish to achieve some noticeable results. Therefore, the following exercises for the apron belly will help get rid of it. Check them out:
- Lunge Twist (Lunge with twist)
This will help you lose your stomach apron and tone your abs. Here, you twist your midsection to the right and left while maintaining your lung position.
Watch here for more details
- Basic Crunch
Crunches help to reduce your abs by targeting the rectus abdominis.
Follow the steps below:
- Lie on your back
- Bend your knees to be flat on the floor
- Cross your arm in front of your chest
- Gently lift your shoulder off the floor
- Slowly lower yourself back to the floor
Watch here to learn more on how to do crunches
- Plank
This might look easy but it isn’t. It helps to tighten up loose skin by working on the stomach muscles and the abs.
Follow the steps below:
- Start in the plank position. Facedown with both arms and toes on the floor while your elbows are underneath your shoulders and arms facing forward. Fix your gaze on the floor
- Draw your navel towards the spine while maintaining your body in a straight line.
- Stay in this position for up to 10 seconds before releasing to the floor
- Increase the duration to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds
Check out more exercises for apron belly.
How Can I Ease Discomfort From Apron Belly
Oftentimes, apron belly comes with some discomfort due to the excess skin hanging out. So, if you are having a feeling of discomfort as a result of apron belly – the following are things that can be done to ease your discomfort:
- Keep The Area Dry And Clean
Keeping the apron belly area dry and clean will help to eliminate any form of skin issues like rashes that might want to arise. The skin under the apron belly is prone to trap moisture which can lead to rashes and some other skin issues. So keep it clean and dry always by wiping it properly after taking a bath or when you sweat.
- Use Of Anti-Chafing Creams
The use of anti-chafing creams will help you stop any skin irritation and the feeling of discomfort that can arise because the area underneath the apron belly usually rubs together. The use of this cream will prevent this.
- Support Bands/Clothing
The use of support bands/clothing for covering the abdominal area will help to cover the apron belly. Besides, wearing the appropriate clothes will also prevent the apron from sagging which otherwise will lead to some back pains as a result of carrying extra weight.
How Do I Get Rid Of Apron Belly Without Surgery?
Many non-surgical approaches can help you to get rid of the apron belly. Some of these approaches are highlighted below:
Weight Loss
Getting rid of some pounds of fat is one of the best ways of eliminating or reducing belly fat. It is recommended to shed off about 500 to 1000 calories daily and this means that about 1 to 2 pounds are eliminated weekly to keep the body in good shape. To achieve a better result – there is the need to engage in more exercise and make some dietary changes.
Healthy Lifestyle
Knowing that pregnancy, weight loss, and hormonal fluctuations can all lead to some deposit of fats which could lead to an apron belly – it’s best to make a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Besides, you can set goals, be accountable to someone close to you and reward yourself for every success achieved.
Change In Diet
There is a need to do away with unhealthy foods like sweets, alcoholic beverages, sodas, white rice, white bread, refined grains, and other sugary foods. Also, it’s time to stop the consumption of fried foods, hot dogs, hams, and other processed meats.
You should however increase the intake of leafy greens, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, mushrooms, and asparagus.
Also, you should seek to get more proteinous foods like turkey, seafood, eggs, fish, breaded chicken, milk, Greek yogurt, protein shakes, and cottage cheese. Then you must be ready to take water with you everywhere you go. Water will help you to eliminate sugar and ensure that the skin is elastic – which will help to support weight loss and reduction in body fats.
All these should be done gradually until it becomes a habit.
More Cardiovascular Exercise
One of the most effective ways of weight loss is to increase cardiovascular exercise – this helps to reduce apron belly in both men and women. Examples of cardiovascular exercises include rope jumping, biking, swimming, stair climbing, and rowing. So, you can aim for about 45 to 60 minutes daily for fast results.
Laser Or CoolSculpting Procedure
This is a non-surgical approach to eliminating some belly fat. The use of laser (laser lipolysis) is an invasive cosmetic procedure in which a laser is used to melt fat underneath the skin. Possible side effects are; blood clotting, infection, scar tissue underneath the skin, and skin necrosis – tissue death around the incision point.
CoolSculpting procedure on the other hand is a non-invasive cosmetic method that makes use of a cooling system to freeze fat from beneath the skin. Both methods are effective and safe. The laser procedure costs an average of $2500 to $5500 while CoolSculpting costs between $2,000 to $4,000.
Possible side effects are; swelling, redness, pain, bruising, temporary skin sensitivity, and stinging.
How To Get Rid Of Apron Belly With Surgery
There are also surgical procedures through which the apron belly can be removed. After your weight loss journey, there might still be some extra skin left which diet and exercise might not be able to eliminate. So, the following is a surgical procedure to help with this.
Panniculectomy
This is a surgical procedure that is used to remove the pannus from the lower abdomen. Panniculectomy differs from a tummy tuck in that it does not tighten the abdominal muscles, which disqualifies it from being a cosmetic procedure. However, it can also be done alongside tummy tuck or other suitable procedures.
The clinical cost for panniculectomy ranges from $8000 to $15000 which covers surgery, anesthesia, and facility fees.
Panniculectomy Complications
- Numbness
- Swelling
- Blood clotting
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Bleeding
If these symptoms become irregular or you begin to notice any other changes to your body – seek immediate medical attention.
The recovery takes from 4 to 6 weeks during which you are not allowed to lift any heavy stuff to allow for a full recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can CoolSculpting Get Rid Of My Apron Belly?
Yes, it can! It works by freezing and killing all the abdominal fat cells. However, it does not stop the remaining cells to stop growing – so, it cannot kill all the subcutaneous fat cells as some will still be left behind.
- Why Does My Lower Belly Sag?
This can be attributed to many factors – some of which are; unhealthy lifestyle, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, hormonal imbalance, and others.
- Can I Get Rid Of A Pannus Without Surgery?
At the moment, surgical procedure is the best way of getting rid of the panniculus. Though weight loss can help to reduce the fat deposit or the extra skin developed.
Final Thoughts
If you have noticed the development of some extra flap of skin around your abdomen that looks like an apron, do not be embarrassed or scared because the apron belly support tips highlighted in this post will help you to gain back your self-confidence in no time.
Also, it is advisable to consult your medical doctor just to be sure that there are no other underlying health challenges and the right counsel can be given on the best approach to take.
