EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood doctor lists the plastic surgeries he thinks Zac Efron has had – after fans were left shocked by actor’s facial transformation
Zac Efron’s interview with Entertainment Weekly this week has reignited the debate over whether or not the actor has undergone cosmetic surgery.
Fans joked that Efron, 36, had a “chad filter” on his face, referring to his noticeably wider jaw and stocky facial features.
The Baywatch star sent shockwaves in 2021 when he first debuted his dramatic new look, which he said was due to a nasty fall that “shattered his jaw.”
But that fall happened in 2013, and Efron appeared in several films — including 2017’s Baywatch — looking like his usual baby-faced self.
Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie said he doesn’t buy Efron’s explanation, and believes the actor achieved his dramatic look through a slew of cosmetic procedures – and through the use of muscle-building drugs.
2018 and 2023: Zac is pictured above in 2018 at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles and in 2023 during an interview for Entertainment Weekly
Zac showed off his dramatic new facial expression last year. His lips appear smoother and his chin more defined
Dr. Motykie told DailyMail.com: ‘I’m curious about his jawline. There is definitely a difference,” he said.
‘I think in the new images it looks like it has been enlarged in the lower jaw area and the chin is a little more pronounced.
“So there’s a possibility he did more fillers, an expansion of that area.”
“I’m a little suspicious in general, but the whole face is also a little bloated, so it’s hard to say.”
He also said that the featured star has probably used Botox, adding: ‘When I look at his new face, starting with the eyes, he has changed that stern, masculine, prey-like look into a kind of soft, surprised look in his eyes.
‘That can come from botox to the eyebrow.’
He added: ‘The face is also puffy and fuller and he has lost that chiselled look for a more feminine oval-shaped, softer face.’
That indicates padding of the face and cheeks, he said.
Dr. Motykie said it was also possible that Zac had gotten lip fillers because his lips seemed to grow over time instead of shrinking as normally happens with age.
Dr. Motykie said his swollen appearance could also be due to testosterone replacement therapy, a type of anabolic steroid that can be legally prescribed by doctors.
Efron’s new face in 2021 sparked debate online about whether he had plastic surgery
Zac Efron is pictured above during the filming of 2017’s Baywatch, sporting his classic look
He’s been pushing hard for his role in “The Iron Claw,” out next month – prompting speculation from some quarters that he’s been using testosterone replacement therapy to help him pack on the pounds.
Dr. Motykie told DailyMail.com: ‘Based on the shirtless footage of him on the set of ‘The Iron Claw’, I am most suspicious of testosterone use.
“If Zac is on testosterone, it is entirely possible that he has developed something called TRT, or testosterone replacement therapy, moonface.
‘TRT moon face’ is a side effect that involves retention of water and sodium in the body and is characterized by swelling and bags in the face.
‘This phenomenon is often seen after long-term or high-dose testosterone replacement therapy.’
Testosterone replacement therapy – used by nearly five million American men – can cause imbalances in the levels of other hormones, such as aldosterone, which helps regulate electrolyte levels in the body.
This imbalance can lead to fluid and water retention, causing bags and swelling in the face.
‘Moon face’ is a possible side effect of TRT that causes the face to look puffy, round, full and swollen.
Doctors say it is not harmful or painful, but changes a person’s appearance and can put a strain on their mental health.
It is usually caused by prednisone, a steroid used to treat asthma, severe allergies and arthritis.
He was also seen above in 2008 in a scene for High School Musical
But it can also be caused by TRT, hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland produces too few hormones, causing an imbalance), and Cushing’s syndrome, when the body produces or receives too much of the stress hormone cortisol.
Doctors say the swelling will go down over time if a person stops taking the drug that may be causing the condition.
Dr. Motykie suggested that Zac may have been using testosterone replacement therapy
Dr. Motykie, who was also previously a professional bodybuilder, added: ‘If Zac has developed “TRT moon face”, all hope is not lost!
‘When testosterone therapy is stopped, the hormonal balance in the body usually begins to return to normal, which can gradually reduce facial swelling and bloating.
‘However, the timeline for reducing facial swelling can vary from person to person, and some people may experience a longer period of swelling before noticing a significant change.’
Commenting on the latest images of the star in an interview with Entertainment weeklywrote one fan: ‘Growth hormone has destroyed his jaw and lips.’
A second said: ‘Wow he looks like the villain in Avengers Endgame,’ and a third said: ‘I keep thinking there’s a Chad filter on his face, jeez.’
Although Efron has not commented on TRT use, he has dabbled in performance-enhancing drugs in the past.
In an interview with Men’s health in 2022, Efron previously admitted that he used Lasix – a powerful diuretic – to get his extremely low-fat body into Baywatch.
He has blamed his changing face for an accident in which he slipped on a pair of socks while running home, causing him to hit his chin on a granite fountain.
The star explained that he lost consciousness but woke up with “his chin bone hanging from his face.”
He added: ‘It was funny. It sucks. I almost died, but we’re doing fine.’
Dr. Motykie also mentioned how cutting fat for rolls could lead to a much slimmer face in the future, which has lost much of its baby fat.
To combat this, he says a number of people use fillers or fat injections to achieve a younger appearance.
He suggested that the bags under his eyes could be due to surgery from these treatments.
A spokesperson for Zac Efron has been contacted for comment.