Last year, when 34-year-old Zac Efron appeared in a video for “Bill Nye’s Earth Day Musical,” fans noticed more defined cheeks and a chiseled jawline. This is where the Zac Efron plastic surgery rumors were born. In a recent interview in Men’s Health, Efron debunked the rumors after his own mother questioned if he’d had a visit to the plastic surgeon.
An Accident vs. Plastic Surgery
In an incident last spring, Efron says he was injured when running through the house in socks and hit his chin on a granite fountain, knocking him unconscious and shattering his jaw. The star said he could see and feel his chin bone dangling from his face. As a result of the injury, Efron says his masseter muscles were inflamed and got noticeably larger. “The masseters just grew,” he said. “They just got really, really big.”
The masseter muscles, responsible for chewing, play a pivotal role in shaping one’s face. When these muscles become hypertrophied or overdeveloped, they can give rise to a square jaw or a square-shaped face, contributing to a more angular and robust appearance. This hypertrophy can also lead to increased facial fullness in the lower cheek and jawline regions.
Efron explains that the facial muscles, vital for chewing, normally “work like a symphony” with other facial muscles. However, following the injury, these same muscles had to overcompensate, resulting in noticeable changes to his appearance.
Famous for his role as Troy Bolton in “High School Musical,” Zac Efron has a diverse filmography, including “Hairspray,” “17 Again,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Neighbors,” and “Baywatch.” His career showcases his versatility, evolving from teen heartthrob roles to more mature and diverse characters. To say his face is his calling card is an understatement.
Ongoing Therapy
He clarified that plastic surgery was not the cause of his condition and admitted he was unaware of the online “Jaw-gate” speculation until his mother asked him about it. Efron, who avoids social media, highlighted that such speculations are a significant reason for his distance from online platforms. “If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do,” he says, “I definitely wouldn’t be able to do this work.”
