Tom Cruise sparked an onslaught of worry with his changed face when he starred in a short film at the 2025 Super Bowl, and it turns out a pricey fat transfer and Botox is to blame.
Viewers were left doing a double take when Tom Cruise popped up in a Super Bowl LIX ad with a “Beverly Hills housewife-esque” look about him.
Ahead of the kickoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the 62-year-old Hollywood legend appeared in a nearly three-minute welcome video that preceded the highly-anticipated championship game.
The Mission: Impossible star spoke directly to the camera as screens in the background projected images from memorable moments at previous Super Bowl games.
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However, fans were quick to point out that the actor looked visibly different in the ad. Many pointed out how he looked “stretched,” while others likened him to the stars of the Real Housewives franchise, who are famous for openly undergoing plenty of cosmetic treatments.
And now, Dr. Gizem Seymenoglu of Longevita has put her expertise to the test and appears to have gotten to the bottom of why Tom looked so different in the ad.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror US, she began: “I notice a certain tightness in his skin, and he also appears to have swelling that extends all the way to his under-eye area. To me, this looks like a fat transfer.
Dr Gizem pointed out that this procedure is more commonly known as “lipo filling or fat grafting,” as she explained: “It is an autologous procedure involving removing fat from another area of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, and injecting it into an area where the person desires more volume.”
She continued: “With fat transfer, reactions like this can happen. Rather than typical post-op swelling, the skin reacts to the treatment but eventually adapts.”
According to the aesthetics expert, “This procedure has become very popular as of late—even the anti-aging tech millionaire Bryan Johnson had these injections last year to make his face look more voluminous. However, the procedure can set intrigued patients back as much as “$15,000.”
Dr Gizem also had another explanation for Tom’s changing face, suggesting: “If he hasn’t had a fat transfer, it could instead be a significant amount of dermal filler that was injected into his face because the swelling extends all the way to his under-eye area.
“I also notice more swelling in his mid rather than lower face,” she added.
The medical aesthetician ruled out that Tom had undergone a facelift, as she explained: “I don’t think we would see this kind of swelling.”
She went on: “The lower part of his face isn’t that tight either, so I don’t believe such a swelling could have been the result of a facelift,” before concluding: “However, I can’t say if he had this surgery before.”
Away from the more invasive procedures, Dr Gizem revealed: “I believe Tom might be getting some Botox injections. Compared to last year, his forehead and frown lines — the vertical lines between the eyebrows — look really smoothed out.”
“They’re not completely gone because that’s not how Botox works anyway. However, by paralyzing or relaxing the muscle in the area in which it is injected, this injection can prevent the lines and wrinkles from deepening,” she continued, noting: “At 62, Tom may be getting these injections to maintain a youthful appearance.”
“But what should be kept in mind about Botox is that it’s not a permanent treatment. Usually, it lasts for 3-4 months, so to maintain the results, Tom would have to get this treatment as many as three times in a year — that could amount to an annual expense of $3,000,” Dr Gizem also stressed.
Despite the ongoing rumors and speculations about his appearance, Tom has not publicly confirmed having had any cosmetic surgery and has remained private about any procedures he might have had.
