Is exercise for the core safe 8 weeks post-op?

Thanks for the question. After 6 weeks your surgery area is totally healed and yes you can do exercising and also do other activities.

This is usually normal considering you are still 8 weeks post op. You should expect to have some weakness at the beginning, but with a gradual increase of exercises, you'll get your former strength back. It just takes a bit of time. Start off slowly, stopping as soon as you feel discomfort, and take lots of breaks.  Definitely avoid sit-ups for at least three months but instead start with planks.

Typically I recommend that you refrain from vigorous exercise and strenuous activity for 6 weeks following tummy tuck.  You can usually resume cardiac exercise within a few weeks, but avoid core strengthening exercises in order to allow adequate healing of your abdominal musculature, especially if muscle tightening was performed.  

It is not uncommon to experience discomfort once you return to exercising these areas.  I usually say to slow down or stop if you do have some pains with that activity.  You should be able to slowly resume your exercise at this time.  Certainly, an evaluation by your plastic surgeon should be done prior, so as to examine that you are appropriately healing well and that you are cleared for activities.   Hope that this helps and good luck!

The minimum healing time after a tummy tuck is about 6 weeks before too much strain can be put on the abdominal muscles. It is completely normal for them to feel weaker and sore when first starting. I usually have patients begin non-lifting exercises within a couple of weeks.

I normally recommend that my patients start cardiovascular workouts 3 weeks after a tummy tuck and full weight training and crunches 6 weeks after. It is to be expected that once you start your workout program again after the lay off, you will find it difficult to get back in the swing of things.  Start slowly without expectations, take it easy, and your strength and confidence will come back.  Most importantly don't push too hard or you will cause a problem.  If it hurts stop or slow down. Good luck.