The internet has a way of turning a single shirtless photo into a forensic investigation. One minute you’re posting a mirror selfie to show off your hard work, and the next, you’re being accused of buying a six-pack from a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. This is exactly the storm Big Sean found himself in recently.
Social media went into a full meltdown. People were zooming in, analyzing shadows, and comparing old photos from the Finally Famous era to his current physique. The central question? Did Big Sean actually get abdominal etching, or is this just the result of hitting the weights?
Big Sean Abs Surgery: Why Everyone Started Talking
It started with a video from fitness influencer Blake Sanburg, known online as @thenutritionnarc. He didn't just suggest Sean was fit; he claimed the rapper’s abs looked a bit "uncanny." He used terms like "bubble gut" and suggested the muscle definition was sitting on top of the stomach in a way that screamed surgery or steroids.
Basically, the theory was that Sean had undergone a procedure called abdominal etching. This is a specific type of high-definition liposuction where a surgeon sucks out fat in the specific grooves between your muscles to make a permanent six-pack.
People jumped on it. Fast.
The comparison to Drake was inevitable. For years, the "Hotline Bling" rapper has faced similar accusations—famously brought up by Joe Budden and later Kendrick Lamar during their 2024 beef. When Big Sean showed up with a similarly "chiseled" look, the court of public opinion was ready to hand down a verdict.
Sean’s Response: "Unfortunately, Mine Are Real"
Sean didn't let the rumors simmer for long. He actually jumped into the comments of the influencer's video to set the record straight. Honestly, his response was pretty hilarious. He told the world that his abs are 100% natural, even joking that "unfortunately" they are real.
"I got love for the fake [ab] community tho, to each its own, but what makes this funnier is this is the way God made me," Sean wrote.
He didn't stop there. He went on to describe his body in a way most people wouldn't—saying that when he’s out of shape, he looks like a "chewed up tootsie roll."
It’s a weirdly specific image. But it felt authentic. He even DM'd the influencer to explain that as he's gotten older, he's had to deal with "Dad weight" and had to "crack down" on his workouts. It turns out, being a father to his son, Noah, changed his perspective on health. He wasn't looking for a shortcut; he was just trying to keep up.
The Reality of the "Dad Weight" Transformation
So, how did he actually do it? If you look at his history, Sean has always been lean. Back in 2013, he was famously skinny. Over the last decade, he’s been on a slow-burn muscle-building journey.
He’s been working with trainer Jerry Ford and has previously mentioned hitting the gym four times a week. His routine isn't just about crunches. It involves:
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- Heavy weight training to build that underlying muscle mass.
- Boxing sessions for high-intensity cardio that strips away body fat.
- Chiropractic care. This is a weird one, but Sean swear by it. He famously claimed he "grew" two inches by fixing his posture through twice-weekly chiropractor visits.
When you combine a straightened spine with a lower body fat percentage, your abs are going to pop. It’s simple biology, even if it looks "fake" to people used to seeing filtered or edited photos.
Why We Are So Obsessed With Celebrity Abs
The fascination with Big Sean abs surgery says more about us than it does about him. We live in an era where "cosmetic fitness" is a real thing. Procedures like VASER liposuction and abdominal etching are becoming mainstream for men who have the money but not the time.
When a celebrity looks too good, our first instinct is to look for the "cheat code." We want to believe they paid for it because it makes our own fitness struggles feel more valid. If Sean can just buy a six-pack, then it's okay that we don't have one, right?
But Sean’s denial highlights a growing divide in hip-hop. On one side, you have the "sculpted" look that often draws skepticism. On the other, you have the "work for it" mentality that Sean is claiming. He even mentioned that he used to livestream his workouts to show the grind.
The Verdict on the Surgery Rumors
Is it possible he's lying? Sure. People in Hollywood lie about filler, Botox, and Ozempic every single day. But the evidence for Sean is actually pretty strong on the "natural" side.
- Consistency: He’s been showing progress for years, not just a sudden "overnight" six-pack.
- Body Type: He has an ectomorph frame—naturally thin. These are the easiest bodies to get "shredded" because they don't carry much fat to begin with.
- The "Chewed Tootsie Roll" Factor: People who get ab etching usually look "done" all the time. Sean’s admission that he fluctuates in weight suggests his look is dependent on his current diet and gym consistency.
What You Can Learn From This
If you're looking at Sean's physique and wondering how to get there without a surgeon's help, it comes down to two things: body fat percentage and core thickness.
You can do a million sit-ups, but if your body fat is over 15%, those abs aren't showing up. Sean likely keeps his body fat in the 8-12% range. He also focuses on "heavy" core work—not just high-rep cardio—to make the muscle blocks actually thick enough to be visible.
The take-away here? Don't believe everything you see on a 15-second TikTok analysis. While the Big Sean abs surgery rumors made for great headlines, the man himself is adamant that it’s just the result of "cracking down" as he gets older.
Next Steps for Your Own Core Transformation:
- Prioritize Protein: You need muscle to show through. Aim for 0.8g to 1g of protein per pound of body weight.
- Master the "Big Three" for Core: Incorporate weighted planks, hanging leg raises, and cable crunches.
- Fix Your Posture: Sean wasn't entirely wrong about the chiropractor. Improving your pelvic tilt and spinal alignment can instantly make your stomach look flatter and more defined.
- Track Your Body Fat: Use a smart scale or calipers. The "secret" to celebrity abs is rarely a secret exercise; it's almost always a strict caloric deficit combined with consistent resistance training.