There have been a lot of talks online regarding Zac Efron's changing appearance since he participated in a 2021 video promoting Earth Day with Bill Nye. Fans noticed that his jawline looked visibly swollen, leading to plastic surgery speculations.
During an interview with Men's Health, Efron shared the details of the painful accident that shattered his jaw to put an end to the plastic surgery rumors. The actor recalled how he slipped and hit his chin against a granite fountain while running through his house. The impact knocked him unconscious, shattered his jaw, and he had to undergo corrective surgery.
As a result of this injury, his facial muscles had to work harder to compensate, which he revealed was the reason behind his 2021 face transformation. Efron also shared that he has been slacking with his physical therapy at the time the video of his swollen jaw went viral.
Zac Efron Got His Jaw Fixed Through A Corrective Surgery
In 2013, Efron suffered a serious jaw injury when he slipped on an unseen puddle of water near the entrance of his home. The actor also shared with ET that he had a gash because of the fall that needed stitches.
Efron emphasized that the accident was life-threatening, making it clear that the plastic surgery rumors were far from the truth.
A TikTok video posted by Dr. Youn during Efron’s trending altered face explained that the actor might have undergone dental surgery contrary to fans' assumptions of plastic surgery. He put forth the idea that dental surgery, not plastic surgery, might explain the swelling along Efron's jawline.
However, in his interview with Men’s Health, Efron revealed that he underwent corrective surgery for his jaw accident and his mouth was wired shut to allow for the healing process.
The treatment options for a broken jaw vary depending on the severity of the injury. When it comes to mild fractures, the jaw may heal naturally without intervention. However, surgery is often required in more serious cases like Zac Efron's.
In his situation, his jaw must have been wired to the teeth of his opposing jaw to provide stability during the healing process. These jaw wires typically remain in place for a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Small rubber bands known as elastics are also used to hold the teeth together. If the jaw is wired, the patient is placed on a liquid or soft diet only until the jawbone heals.
Zac Efron Got His Jaw Fixed Through Series Of Physical Therapies
Zac Efron attributed his enhanced jawline to the development of his masseter muscles, which are responsible for chewing. He explained that he actively engaged in masseter exercises as part of his recovery process after the unfortunate jaw accident he experienced.
The actor revealed that his facial muscles grew big as they compensated for the injury. To manage his growing facial muscles, he went to a physical therapist to counteract the excessive growth.
However, during his break in Australia in 2021, Efron admitted that he had not been consistent with his physical therapy regimen, which resulted in further development of his masseter muscles. He candidly shared with Men's Health, "The masseters just grew. They just got really, really big."
To enhance the healing process and promote the overall recovery of local tissues after jaw fractures, patients are often advised to undergo a course of physiotherapy. This treatment method involves utilizing physical factors such as heat, cold, electromagnetic waves, and vibration.
Patients are also provided with an individualized home exercise program that focuses on improving the range of movement and strength of the jaw. Patients additionally receive health education on chewing habits, the types of foods to consume, and jaw positions to avoid during therapy sessions.
Zac Efron Now Prioritizes His Mental Health More Than Ever
Zac Efron shared that he currently maintains a mindful exercise routine that involves activities like yoga, stretching, and self-massage. "I live attached to a Theragun (a handheld percussive therapy device) and yoga."
Self-massage is a practice that allows someone to connect with different areas of their body to enhance overall bodily awareness. When combined with yoga and movement exercises that specifically target these areas, self-massage can greatly improve proprioception, which is the sense of how our body moves and exists in space.
Efron also has become an advocate of ice baths, considering it his favorite part of the day. "It's my favorite part of the day. Before is when it’s most miserable, and when you finally just commit and jump in there. From that point forward, you've conquered something deep within you; you do not want to get cold. That's the simplest philosophy, anything you don't want to do, make it a habit," he shared.
Efron recalled that after his injury and the filming of Baywatch in 2017, he pushed himself to intense workouts, which had negative consequences on his well-being. In his interview with Men's Health, Efron shared that the experience led to a period of dark depression and insomnia, stating that filming the movie burned him out.
According to the actor, it took him six months after wrapping up the film to start feeling better. Efron revealed that the use of diuretics which was used to achieve his Greek god body for the film, his extreme diet and exercise, played a role in his struggles, and eventually took a toll on his mental health.
It wasn't until 2022 that Efron began feeling like his old self again. He expressed his realization that the highly defined Baywatch physique he attained was not realistic and involved dehydration of the skin, creating an artificial appearance. "That Baywatch look, I don’t know if that's really attainable…I much prefer to have an extra, you know, 2 to 3 percent body fat."
During one episode of Hot Ones, Efron openly expressed regret over the intense physical transformation for Baywatch and emphasized the importance of taking care of one's heart and brain for long-term health and happiness. “Take care of your heart, take care of your brain, you’re good.”
