The invention relates to a method for producing thin, absorbent surface structures which can be used in hygiene products such as nappies, incontinence products, dressings or sanitary towels, in order to receive bodily fluids. The inventive method comprises the following steps: A) a mixture is produced from an adhesive in the form of a dispersion and a particle-shaped absorbent by swirling the constituents, B) the mixture of adhesive and absorbent is uniformly applied to the surface of one side of a first flat carrier material, C) one side of a second flat carrier material is applied to the mixture of adhesive and absorbent on the surface of one side of the first flat carrier material, forming a sandwich-type intermediate product, and D) said sandwich-type intermediate product is processed to form the final product, at a temperature of at least 90 °C, a pressure of between 4 and 50 bar and a pressure time of between 0.5 and 5 min. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out step (A) of the method, and hygiene products containing at least one thin, absorbent surface structure produced according to the inventive method.