Perhaps he is the epitome of the action movie hero.
Tom Cruise, now 60, has starred in seven Mission Impossible films and two Top Guns, and says he performs his own stunts on each shoot.
But recently taken pictures show that his physique does not match that of other Hollywood heroes of the same age.
Fans were quick to react to photos of the father of three on a Spanish beach, noting that his torso, while defined, looked as if it were “sunken in.”
Some suggested that the sagging skin indicated that the star had undergone cosmetic surgery such as pecking implants or even liposuction.
Tom Cruise, 61, showed off his shirtless physique almost 40 years after Top Gun as he changed into his swimsuit for a dip in Mallorca before putting on socks and sneakers.
Many drew comparisons to Cruise’s peers, including Brad Pitt, 60, and Benjamin Bratt, also 60, who have equally ripped physiques without the flab.
Now, plastic surgeons and fitness experts have told DailyMail.com why this strange aesthetic may have developed.
Sagging skin around the abdomen could be the result of liposuction, according to Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. David Hill.
Liposuction is a procedure that involves suctioning out small areas of fat in areas of the body where deposits accumulate, such as the buttocks, hips, thighs, and abdomen.
“Usually, if you lose weight naturally over time, you get fewer ripples and irregularities in your skin, because it’s gradual,” Dr. Hill said.
“With liposuction, because it’s more immediate, the skin doesn’t have time to contract as much…so Tom’s Cruise’s sagging skin could be a hallmark of (liposuction).”
The Mission Impossible star is known for performing his own stunts and staying in fantastic shape.
But if you had the procedure, the surgery went well, Dr. Hill said.
“I don’t see any irregular contour features on his body that would suggest poor liposuction, but there is greater muscle definition, which reflects his previous photographs when he was younger. If they did it, they did it well,” he said.
However, Dr. Howard Sobel, a cosmetic dermatological surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said it is not possible to say with certainty whether or not Cruise has had liposuction.
The sagging skin we see in the images, he says, is simply a natural sign of aging.
‘In any 61-year-old man, you would expect to have some sagging skin, because as we age, we lose that elasticity in the skin.
“The chest areas and the areas under the chest, the skin around the ribs and the abdominals are very often the first to lose elasticity, especially in a man.”
As people age, collagen and elastin levels in the skin gradually decrease, causing the skin to lose strength and become less firm.
He adds that sagging skin is a complication that is normally only seen in patients who have a lot of fat to lose, which is not the case for Tom Cruise.
Brad Pitt, 60, showed off his incredible muscular physique while recently filming the new racing movie Apex at the NASCAR hub Daytona International Speedway, Florida. Meanwhile, 60-year-old Benjamin Bratt stripped down while doing full-frontal nudity in the trailer for Brooke Shields’ new movie Mother of the Bride.
There’s no doubt that Lenny Kravitz is taking the lead in terms of ripped physique after the 59-year-old shared these snaps back in March. Meanwhile, Josh Brolin, 54, showed off his very toned chest in a mirror selfie, crediting him training for the new Dune movie.
Brad Pitt during the filming of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2020
But Cruise has always done his best to maintain a healthy lifestyle and physique.
The star previously revealed that she enjoys a long list of physical activities to stay in shape.
He said Men’s health: ‘Sea kayaking, caving… fencing, treadmill, weights… rock climbing, hiking… jogging… I do a lot of different activities.’
Constantly challenging her body, the star follows a five-day training plan that includes three days of weight training and cardio sessions, as well as two days of more “outdoor” activities like fencing or hiking.
Incorporating a variety of exercises into her routine, some of her favorites include one-arm barbell presses, weighted lunges, and deadlifts.
PT expert Nick Lower previously told British GQ that Cruise has the best team in the world who stay on top of the latest in fitness science and technology.
He explained: ‘I know he uses this very expensive, high-end machine that, instead of just being a normal chest press machine, for example, works you with your eccentric load, pushing you back.
‘So instead of doing a set of 10, you could do a set of five and you’ll have done the same amount of work.
‘Whatever I’m doing, it works. You meet him in person and he looks 10 years younger.”