Zac Efron Addresses Plastic Surgery Rumors A Year After Photo Of Jawline Went Viral

Zac Efron is breaking his silence on the rumors that he had plastic surgery.

Efron, 34, first sparked plastic surgery speculation in April 2021, when he appeared in a clip promoting "Earth Day! The Musical." At the time, his chiseled appearance and pronounced jaw prompted fans to speculate whether he had work done on his face.

In a new interview with Men's Health, the "High School Musical" actor denied getting plastic surgery and explained that the changes to the shape of his jaw were actually the result of an injury.

Efron said that he shattered his jaw while running in his house with socks on several years ago.

The actor recalled slipping and hitting his chin on a granite fountain before he lost consciousness. When he woke up, he said his chin bone was "hanging off" his face.

He told the magazine that the masseter muscles, which are face muscles used for chewing, work together with the other muscles of the face "like a symphony," and when he was injured, the muscles on the inside of his face and jaw had to compensate

The actor said he worked with a specialist and did physical therapy to mediate this.

But when he took some time off from that while in Australia, Efron said, "The masseters just grew. They just got really, really big."

Efron said he didn't know about the plastic surgery rumors until his mom, Starla Baskett, asked him about it as he stays away from social media. He explained that while he appreciates how social media can be used for promoting projects, he generally avoids it as a survival tactic.

"If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do, I definitely wouldn't be able to do this work," he told the magazine.

During the interview, the "17 Again" star also briefly talked about his love life, sharing that he is currently single.

"I've really been taking time to focus on, you know, self- fulfillment and trying to find my groove. I know that probably when I meet the right person, it's going to be when I least expect it," Efron said.

When the plastic surgery rumors first surfaced last year, Efron's friend Kyle Sandilands denied that the actor had work done.

He added that he believes there is no room for improvement when it comes to the "Baywatch" actor's looks, so he doesn't need to undergo any surgery to enhance his appearance.

"It's like getting a Picasso and having a kid finger paint all over it," Sandilands said on "The Kyle and Jackie O" radio show in May 2021. "Why bother? ... I would know if he'd had any plastic surgery."