Patients with morbid obesity often develop a significant overhanging abdominal pannus. Problems associated with an overhanging pannus can include difficulty performing routine daily activities as well as exercise due to the cumbersome nature of the excess tissue. In addition, the abdominal pannus tissue often becomes infected due to difficulty with hygiene and abnormal circulation and lymphatic flow. There may also be a significant contribution from the pannus to the patient's underlying cardiopulmonary status which is often compromised in morbid obesity patients.