Plastic surgeons reveal reason behind Tom Cruise's mysterious 'sagging' skin...and how his physique stacks up against other 60+ Hollywood hunks

He is perhaps the epitome of action movie hero.

Tom Cruise, now 61, has fronted seven Mission Impossible movies and two Top Guns, and claims he performs his own stunts on every shoot. 

But recently snapped images show his physique doesn't quite match up to that of other Hollywood heroes of the same age. 

Fans were quick to react to the pictures of the father of-three on a Spanish beach - noting that his torso, while defined, looked as thought it was 'sagging'.

Some suggested the loose skin indicated that the star has undergone cosmetic surgery like peck implants or even liposuction. 

Tom Cruise, 61, showed off his shirtless physique almost 40 years since Top Gun as he slipped into his swimming trunks for a dip in Majorca before changing into socks and trainers

Many made comparisons to Mr Cruise's peers, including Brad Pitt, 60 and Benjamin Bratt, also 60, who have similarly ripped physiques but without the sagginess.

Now, plastic surgeons and fitness experts have told DailyMail.com why the bizarre aesthetic might have developed. 

Loose skin around the midriff could be a result of liposuction, according to Dr David Hill, a Chicago plastic surgeon.

Liposuction is a procedure that involves sucking out small areas of fat in areas of the body where deposits collect, such as the bottom, hips, thighs and abdomen.

'Usually, if you lose weight naturally over time, you get less of that skin rippling and irregularity, because it's gradual,' said Dr Hill.

'With liposuction, because it's more immediate, the skin doesn't have time to contract as much... so Tom's Cruise's saggy skin could be a hallmark of [liposuction].'

The Mission Impossible star is known for executing his own stunts and staying in fantastic shape

But if he has had the procedure done, the surgery has been done well, Dr Hill said.

'I don't see any hallmarks of irregular contour on his body that would suggest bad liposuction, but there is enhanced muscle definition, which is reflective of his earlier photos when he was younger. If they did it, they did it well,' he said.

Dr Howard Sobel, cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, however, said it is not possible to tell for sure whether or not Mr Cruise has had liposuction.

The skin sagging we see in the images, he says, is merely a natural sign of ageing.  

'In any 61-year-old guy you would expect to have some skin sagging, because as we get older, we lose that elasticity in our skin.

'The areas of your chest, and the areas below your chest, the skin around your ribs and your abs are very often the first to lose the elasticity, especially in a man.'

As people age, collagen and elastin levels in the skin gradually decrease, which causes it to lose strength and become less firm.

He adds that sagging skin is a complication that is only typically 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 as he filmed new racing movie Apex at NASCAR hub Daytona International Speedway, Florida recently. Meanwhile, Benjamin Bratt bared all aged 60 as he did full frontal nudity in trailer for Brooke Shields' new movie Mother of the Bride

There is no doubt Lenny Kravitz is taking the lead for the most 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 his training for the new Dune film

Brad Pitt while shooting Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2020

But Mr Cruise has always done what he can to maintain a healthy lifestyle and physique. 

The star previously revealed he enjoys a wide-ranging list of physical activities to keep 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 workout plan which includes three days of weight training sessions and cardio as well as two days of more 'out-there' activities like fencing or hiking.

Incorporating a range of exercises into his routine, a few of his favorites include one-armed barbell presses, weighted lunges and deadlifts. 

Expert PT Nick Lower previously told British GQ that Cruise has the best team in the world who keep on top of all the latest fitness science and technology.

He explained: 'I do know that he uses this very expensive, high-end machine that instead of just being a normal chest press machine, for example, it works you on your eccentric load, pushing you back.

'So instead of doing a set of 10, you could do a set of five and you’ve done just as much work.

'Whatever he’s doing, it works. You meet him in the flesh and he looks 10 years younger'.