Zac Efron Plastic Surgeries – What Happened to Him After Face Injury

When Zac Efron stepped onto the red carpet in 2021 after a long public absence, jaws literally dropped, but not for the reasons you’d expect. Fans weren’t admiring his outfit or asking about his latest movie. Instead, the internet exploded with one question: “What happened to Zac Efron’s face?”

His square, ultra-defined jawline sparked an avalanche of plastic surgery rumors, jaw implants, Botox, fillers, cheek implants, and even multiple rounds of facial reconstruction. Some fans said he looked “completely different,” others compared him to cartoonish prosthetic faces.

According to Zac himself, none of this was cosmetic. He attributes the changes to a devastating jaw injury that nearly detached his chin from his face, a detail many media outlets either missed or misunderstood. Even more shocking? Experts suggest that his facial changes could actually be a natural result of trauma recovery, not plastic surgery.

Let’s break it all down, fact vs. fiction, surgery vs. recovery, and why this story is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about pressure, privacy, and the real physical cost of Hollywood perfection.

Zac Efron’s Rise to Fame: From Teen Heartthrob to Hollywood Leading Man

Before we dive into the transformation, let’s rewind to where it all started. Zac Efron burst into fame with Disney’s High School Musical in 2006. He was the clean-cut, all-American “Troy Bolton”, sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, and a naturally charismatic face.

By the time he starred in Baywatch (2017) and The Greatest Showman (2018), Efron had rebranded into a muscle-bound, chiseled Hollywood heartthrob. But even with the transition into more rugged roles, his facial features remained largely the same, until 2021.

Zac Efron’s Jaw Injury 2013: What Really Happened?

The Incident That Changed Everything

In November 2013, Efron suffered a severe facial trauma at home. While running through his house in socks, he slipped and slammed his chin into the granite corner of a fountain. In his own words, the impact was so strong that it “almost completely detached” his chin from his face.

The injury left him unconscious and bleeding, so severe that he needed emergency reconstructive surgery. According to Men’s Health, his jaw was wired shut for six weeks and his face required stitches to close a deep gash.

Post-Surgery Complications

The lesser-known part of this story is what happened after the surgery. Efron began physical therapy to help retrain the muscles in his face, but he paused it while filming “Down to Earth” in Australia. This created an unusual condition: his masseter muscles (the ones responsible for chewing) began to overcompensate and grow abnormally.

This led to muscle hypertrophy, a natural bulking of the jaw area that can create a wider, more masculine, or even surgical-looking jawline, without any implants involved.

Zac Efron Plastic Surgeries Speculation Explosion (2021–2024)

Earth Day 2021: The Internet Melts Down

The plastic surgery rumors hit their peak when Zac appeared in a short Earth Day special with Bill Nye in April 2021. His jaw looked dramatically wider and more sculpted—and Twitter (now X) immediately exploded with reactions:

“WHAT HAPPENED TO ZAC EFRON LMAO”
“Looks like he got stung by a bee!”
“Did he pull a Weekend prosthetic face?”

 

This viral moment became known as “Jaw-Gate”—and it never really went away. Alleged Cosmetic Procedures

At Aslı Tarcan Clinic, we’ve observed wide range of potential procedures Zac Efron may have undergone.

• Jaw and Chin Implants
• Cheek Implants
• Upper Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
• Rhinoplasty (nose job)
• Lip Fillers
• Botox and Dermal Fillers
• Hair Transplants

Some even claimed he had gone through three stages of jaw/chin implants, citing changes in angles, smoothness, and proportion over time.

Zac’s Denials and Public Statements

In a 2022 Men’s Health cover interview, Efron finally addressed the rumors directly:

“The masseters just grew—they just got really, really big,” he explained, adding that his face muscles “looked weird” because they were compensating for his injury.

 

He emphasized that he has never had plastic surgery, and called the rumors “funny” and “frustrating.”

Even his close friend, Australian radio host Kyle Sandilands, backed him up publicly, saying:

“He didn’t have any plastic surgery. I would know if he did.”

 

Expert Opinions: Trauma or Treatments?

The Case for Natural Muscle Growth

Several plastic surgeons and medical experts have said Zac’s story checks out. Masseter muscle overdevelopment after injury is a well-documented phenomenon. It can drastically alter facial appearance, especially if therapy is paused.

The Case for Cosmetic Enhancements

That said, our experts also point out that some features look surgically refined, especially:

• The smooth transition between jaw and chin (indicating custom implants).
• A more angular cheekbone structure (possibly cheek implants or fillers).
• Fuller lips with subtle projection and curl (consistent with ongoing lip filler).

So the verdict? It could be a combination: medical trauma recovery plus small aesthetic procedures for refinement.

Media and Public Reactions

Mixed Reactions on Social Media

The internet had its fun—but reactions were mixed:

• Mockery: “Looks like Handsome Squidward.” “Another Hollywood victim.”
  
• Support: “His face was nearly ripped off. He’s a survivor.”
• Curious Optimism: At the A Family Affair premiere (June 2024), fans said:

“Fillers dissolved. Jaw swelling gone… he’s BACK.”

 

News Media Coverage

Major outlets like People, TODAY, and Entertainment Tonight offered balanced takes. Meanwhile, Daily Mail and tabloids leaned heavily into “before and after” comparisons, fueling further rumors.

Notably, Zac’s character in A Family Affair jokes about “getting chin surgery after falling on glass”, a possible wink to the real-life event.

Zac Efron Health, Fitness & Lifestyle

The Baywatch Physique and Mental Toll

Efron’s body for Baywatch was extreme. He later admitted to taking diuretics like Lasix, experiencing insomnia, depression, and feeling like a CGI version of himself.

Health Reboot

Now, Zac focuses on longevity and sustainability: ice baths, yoga, stretching, massage guns. He maintains a slightly higher body fat percentage and prioritizes feeling good over looking photo-shoot ready.

History of Injuries

Along with the jaw trauma, Zac has endured:

• Torn ACL
• Dislocated shoulder
• Broken wrist
• Back pain

These injuries speak to the physical toll of maintaining his Hollywood image.

Final Verdict: Truth, Speculation, and What Matters Most

So, did Zac Efron get plastic surgery?

He says no, and his explanation is medically sound. Experts say there’s a chance of minor aesthetic work, especially facial fillers or implants.

The public? Still divided.

But what really matters is this: Zac Efron survived a traumatic injury, rebuilt his face, endured media ridicule, and came back healthier and more grounded than before.