He is perhaps the epitome of an action movie hero.
Tom Cruise, now 61, has directed seven Mission Impossible films and two Top Guns and claims he performs his own stunts in every shot.
But recently taken photos show that his physique doesn’t quite match that of other Hollywood heroes of the same age.
Fans were quick to comment on the father-of-three’s photos on a Spanish beach, noting that his torso, while defined, looked as if it had ‘sagged’.
Some suggested that the loose skin indicated that the star had undergone cosmetic surgery, such as cock implants or even liposuction.
Tom Cruise, 61, showed off his shirtless physique almost 40 years since Top Gun when he slipped into his swimming trunks for a dip in Mallorca before changing into socks and trainers
Many drew comparisons to Cruise’s peers, including Brad Pitt, 60, and Benjamin Bratt, also 60, who have a similarly ripped body but without the flabby physique.
Now plastic surgeons and fitness experts have told DailyMail.com why the bizarre aesthetic might have developed.
Loose skin around the diaphragm can be the result of liposuction, according to Dr. David Hill, a Chicago plastic surgeon.
Liposuction is a procedure in which small portions of fat are suctioned out in areas of the body where deposits collect, such as the buttocks, hips, thighs and abdomen.
“If you lose weight naturally over time, you will usually have fewer wrinkles and irregularities in the skin because it is gradual,” says Dr. Hill.
‘Because it’s done more immediately with liposuction, the skin doesn’t have as much time to contract… so Tom’s Cruise’s sagging skin could be a feature of [liposuction].’
The Mission Impossible star is known for performing his own stunts and staying in fantastic shape
But if he had the procedure, the surgery was done properly, Dr. Hill said.
‘I don’t see any features of irregular contours on his body that would indicate poor liposuction, but there is improved muscle definition, which is reflective of his previous shots when he was younger. “If they did it, they did it right,” he said.
Dr. However, Howard Sobel, a cosmetic dermatological surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said it was not possible to say for certain whether or not Mr Cruise had liposuction.
According to him, the sagging skin that we see in the images is just a natural sign of aging.
‘You would expect some sagging skin in any 61-year-old man, because as we age we lose the elasticity of our skin.
‘The areas of your chest, and the areas under your chest, the skin around your ribs and your abdominal muscles are 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 typically only occurs 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 as he recently filmed the new racing movie Apex at NASCAR hub Daytona International Speedway, Florida. Meanwhile, Benjamin Bratt bared all 60 as he did full frontal nudity in the trailer for Brooke Shields’ new film Mother of the Bride
There’s no doubt that Lenny Kravitz takes the lead for most ripped body after the 59-year-old shared these photos in March. Meanwhile, Josh Brolin, 54, showed off his very toned chest in a mirror selfie, crediting his training for the new Dune movie
Brad Pitt during the filming of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2020
But Mr. Cruise has always done what he could to maintain a healthy lifestyle and physique.
The star previously revealed that he enjoys an extensive list of physical activities to stay in shape.
He told Men’s health: ‘Sea kayaking, caving… fencing, treadmill, weights… rock climbing, hiking… I jog… I do so many different activities.’
Constantly challenging his body, the star follows a five-day training plan that includes three days of strength training and cardio, as well as two days of more ‘outdoor’ activities such as fencing or walking.
Incorporating a range of exercises into his routine, some of his favorites include one-arm barbell presses, weighted lunges and deadlifts.
Expert PT Nick Lower previously told British GQ that Cruise has the best team in the world who are up to date with the latest fitness science and technology.
He explained: ‘I do know that he uses a very expensive, high-end machine that, instead of being, say, a normal chest press machine, works your eccentric load and pushes you back.
“So instead of doing a set of ten, you could do a set of five and you’d have done just as much work.
“Whatever he does, it works. You meet him in real life and he looks 10 years younger.”