If you recently watched A Family Affair on Netflix and found yourself asking questions about Zac Efron’s face, you are indeed just like the other girls. We’ve been stalking this man for nearly two decades now, so it’s only natural that we notice when there’s a major change in his appearance. And there’s no denying it — Zac’s face definitely looks different in that movie. It’s not the face from High School Musical, 17 Again, or The Greatest Showman. Over the past couple years, there have been persistent rumors about Zac having had plastic surgery. While that is obviously the reason why most actors’ faces ~evolve~, Zac’s situation is unique.

In November 2013, the actor had a horrible accident while running around in socks at home. Zac lost consciousness, and when he came to, he realized that his chin bone was hanging off his face. Needless to say, it wasn’t an easy recovery process. So, enough with the plastic surgery chatter, people! Zac’s explained that his jaw transformation is more noticeable when he takes a break from physical therapy, which he did before filming A Family Affair.

I always enjoy gazing at my husband, so here are a bunch of photos of Zac Efron before and after his jaw transformation. Spoiler alert: He’s gorgeous no matter what.

Zac Efron Then & Now: Photos Before & After His Transformation

Zac Efron High School Musical Era (2006 – 2008)

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Just a boy with a basketball, a baby Bieber haircut (Zac did it first!), killer dance moves, and a dream! Zac was 18 years old when High School Musical premiered in 2006.

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When High School Musical 2 rolled around, Zac was still making us swoon with the Bieber hairstyle. Back then, it didn’t get more en vogue for men than a vest over a white T-shirt… just ask the Jonas brothers.

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2008 was a terrible year because High School Musical came to an end. It’s 2024, and I’m still not over this. For Zac though, finishing the franchise was just the start of a long acting career.

Zac Efron’s “I’m An Adult Now” Years (2010-2012)

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Now that is quite a quiff! For his 2010 appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Zac wanted his hair to reach heaven.

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This feels like one of the first real Zac Efron Is An Adult photos — here, the actor is pictured on the set of Are We Officially Dating? in December 2012.

Zac Efron The Year Of His Accident (2013)

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They say lives were permanently altered after Zac gifted this camera his best smouldering eyes.

Zac Efron’s Baywatch And The Greatest Showman Year (2017)

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Zac was looking like a QT during his Baywatch press tour! That was an extremely unfortunate movie, I hate to say.

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I don’t think we as a society will ever recover from the masterpiece that is The Greatest Showman. Although this is not my favorite Zac stache ever, he’s still adorable with it.

Blonde Zac Efron (2019)

Zac Efron at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival

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This was a thing that did occur in 2019. Not a thing I like to remember.

Zac Efron When He Filmed A Family Affair (2022)

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This photo of Zac was taken in September 2022, right around the time he was filming A Family Affair. As we know, his jaw was really jaw-ing after he stopped physical therapy for a while.

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Aaaand another photo of my king — the same month!

Zac Efron Today (2024)

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At 36, Zac is more stunning than ever. I’m living for the facial hair and short, neat haircut. His baby blues are unmatched to this day.