the abdominal elevator 100 is more comfortably removed from the patient upon completion of the surgical procedure the adhesive 30 may be any that is suitable for medical purposes and that allows secure attachment of the abdominal elevator 100 to the pannus preferably the adhesive 30 is a pressure sensitive adhesive the adhesive 30 may also contain an antimicrobial such as iodine phenols fatty acid monoesters silver and silver salts and hydrogen peroxide the adhesive 30 may be applied by spraying painting or laminating when fully assembled the abdominal elevator 100 has a length l 3 that is sufficient to allow the body portion 10 to attach to the pannus via the adhesive layer 30 and to the bedrail via the straps 20 after placement of the body portion 10 via the adhesive layer 30 light to moderate traction is applied to the abdominal wall causing elevation of the pannus the pannus is restrained with one or more straps 20 that are attached to the bedrail either along the top of the bed as shown in fig1 b and 1d or at the side of the bedrail if straps 20 are attached at the side of the body portion 10 the adhesive 30 may be covered by a release liner not shown the release liner may be selected from the group consisting of a polymer paper coated paper and a silicone coated paper the abdominal elevator 100 may be manufactured by forming the shape of the body portion 10 of the device from a polymer paper or cloth laminating an adhesive 30 onto the body portion of the device and laminating a release sheet onto the adhesive 30 and attaching the straps 20 to the body portion 10 alternatively the abdominal elevator 100 may be manufactured by extruding.