To shrink a saggy stomach, combine strength training (planks, twists) to build muscle, aerobic exercise (walking, running) to burn fat, and a healthy diet, while topical products with retinoids or professional treatments like laser/ultrasound therapy can help firm skin; for severe cases, surgical options (tummy tuck, panniculectomy) are available.
Abdominoplasty for Hanging Stomach
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.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is cosmetic surgery to improve the shape of the tummy area (abdomen). It can involve removing excess loose skin, fat and stretch marks and tightening the abdominal muscles.
You can lose weight and tighten your abs, but your skin will not snap back into place. Your belly might appear smaller when you lose some weight. If you want to get rid of the excess skin, surgery might be the only option.
Improving your lifestyle is a strong component of tightening up a flabby stomach. Exercise plays a key role here. Incorporating strength training, especially exercises targeting the core, can significantly improve muscle tone. Think along the lines of planks, crunches, or leg raises.
The evidence: Though some animal studies support the idea, I could find no compelling evidence from human studies that drinking extra water helps burn fat as a means to lose excess weight.
People struggling with an apron belly often resort to surgery because it's the only real option they have. Although nothing is impossible, it's highly unlikely that exercise and dietary changes will eliminate apron belly.
Walking and other forms of exercise can help reduce fat, improve posture, and tone your muscles, which may improve the appearance of an apron belly. However, loose skin won't shrink only through exercising.
The 3-3-3 rule for weight loss is a simple, habit-based method focusing on three key areas: 3 balanced meals a day, 3 bottles (or ~1.5L) of water by 3 PM, and 3 hours of physical activity per week, aiming for consistency over complex diets. It simplifies fat loss by establishing rhythm through consistent eating, adequate hydration to support metabolism, and regular movement, promoting sustainable health without intense calorie counting or restrictive rules, says Five Diamond Fitness and Wellness, Joon Medical Wellness & Aesthetics, and EatingWell.
Skin may loosen or sag as people age due to changes in the molecules that keep it elastic, firm, and hydrated. Ways to help tighten loose skin include exercise, supplements, and laser resurfacing. Most people start to experience skin laxity, or loosening, in their thirties and forties.
Studies have shown the vitamin A is the single most effective method of restoring the skin's natural collagen and elastin fibers. These fibers are responsible for keeping the skin taut, firm, and wrinkle-free.
Pain is expected during tummy tuck recovery, but the intensity and duration vary from person to person. Many patients experience the most significant pain during the first week following the tummy tuck procedure, often rating it around a 6 or 7 out of 10.
As for the claim that a cream or lotion can lift sagging skin, dermatologists say that's not possible. A cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to do this. Still, you may see a small change if a product contains a retinoid, such as retinol, which can help your body make more collagen.
Treatments like CoolSculpting® or EMSCULPT NEO® may reduce small pockets of fat or build muscle tone, but they cannot remove excess skin or address the deeper structural issues associated with an apron belly.
Planks, Russian twists, bicycle crunches, they all play a significant role in transforming your rectus abdominis, obliques, and transverse abdominis as well as reducing that hanging belly.
An apron belly, sometimes called a mother's apron, is a fold of excess skin and fat that hangs over your lower abdomen. This overhanging tissue, a pannus, can cause more than cosmetic concerns. It may lead to discomfort, skin irritation, and hygiene challenges.
Adele's significant weight loss wasn't from a quick fix but a two-year journey combining intense strength training, Pilates, hiking, boxing, and cardio, alongside major lifestyle changes focused on managing anxiety, not restrictive diets like the Sirtfood Diet, with workouts happening multiple times daily for mental and physical strength. Her routine included morning weights, afternoon hikes or boxing, and evening cardio, emphasizing getting stronger, which naturally led to fat loss and improved well-being.
Daily: The most common form of intermittent fasting is a daily fast for 12 to 16 hours. For a 16-hour fast, this would result in an 8-hour feeding window during a 24-hour period. A “16:8” fast might look like eating breakfast at 11am and finishing dinner by 7pm.
People naturally lose muscle after 40, especially women after menopause. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, this can slow down your metabolism and make it harder to shake those stubborn pounds.
Posture: During a flat tummy walk, you stand tall with your shoulders pulled back and down. Your spine stays neutral, not arched or hunched. Regular walking often involves slouching or looking down at your phone. Core engagement: You actively contract your abdominal muscles throughout the entire walk.
People who regularly eat and drink more calories than they burn each day are more likely to gain extra weight, including belly fat. Getting older also makes a difference. People lose muscle as they age. And the problem is worse for those who are not physically active.
The basic premise for both diets is eat foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) that may help reduce your belly fat storage. MUFA-rich foods include olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocados, and fish. Eating yogurt regularly has also been found to be helpful in reducing belly fat.
The most common stubborn fat areas include the belly, thighs, hips, lower back, upper arms, and neck. These regions tend to store fat more easily and resist weight loss, making them challenging for many people. Fat in these areas is often influenced by factors like hormones, genetics, and lifestyle choices.
Seamless shapewear excels in offering a smooth, supportive foundation that's virtually undetectable under clothing. This is essential for creating a sleek silhouette, whether your aim is to streamline the stomach area or softly contour it.
The national average cost* of a panniculectomy is $7,000, with a range between $5,393 and $13,618. The overall cost of the procedure can be impacted by the surgeon's experience, amount of skin removed, anesthesia type and clinic location.