Exercise may be resumed 6 weeks post-operatively. This time frame will lower the risk of delayed bleeding given the large surface area that is operated on during tummy tuck. Although bleeding is controlled at time of surgery, delayed bleeding may occur during early healing if heart rate or blood pressure increase. The muscle repair also has little strength during early healing. Abdominal exercises, if performed during the early post-operative phase, may lead to breakdown at the muscle repair site. If the stitches break or pull through these fragile tissues, the rectus diastasis may recur.