Jessi Draper is speaking candidly about a cosmetic procedure she says she never wanted and the difficult months that followed. During an appearance on the CHEERS! with Avery Woods podcast on Monday, September 21, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star revealed that she was “very upset” with the results of her latest plastic surgery and described spending approximately nine months “trying to fix” the outcome.
Draper, 34, told podcast host Avery Woods that she had gone in for an upper and lower blepharoplasty — a procedure to remove excess skin from the eyelids — when her doctor suggested adding fat grafting to fill in her under-eye area. She agreed to let the doctor “do what you think I need to be balanced,” a decision she now deeply regrets. According to Draper’s account, the surgeon ultimately took fat from her legs and injected it into her jaw, lips, and eyes. The results, she said, left her looking “so swollen and puffy” throughout season 5 of the Hulu reality series.
“I did not ask for that and we did not talk about it, so I was very upset,” Draper said. She explained that she had to undergo Kybella treatments — injections typically used to reduce fat under the chin — in an attempt to dissolve the unwanted fat. “It’s been a nightmare for the last nine months trying to fix what happened,” she said. “It was my biggest regret, so don’t get fat grafting.”
What Did Jessi Draper Say About Her Plastic Surgery?
Draper’s comments on the CHEERS! podcast represent her most detailed public account to date of her experience with the procedures and their aftermath. She spoke at length about the pressure she feels as a reality television personality and the double standard she believes exists when celebrities discuss cosmetic work.
“You can’t win,” Draper said. “People are like, ‘You obviously got something done. Be honest and be authentic,’ and then you do that, and they rip you apart for doing that. It’s a double-edged sword.”
She also expressed frustration with the expectation that public figures must disclose every procedure while simultaneously being criticized for undergoing them. “I wish people would let us just live our lives and be like, ‘Great. I’m glad you shared, but I don’t need to take it on personally,’” she said.
Despite her regrets, Draper said she does not want her experience to be interpreted as an endorsement of plastic surgery. “I also don’t ever want anyone to think I’m pushing plastic surgery,” she said. “If anything, I tell people, ‘Be really cautious.’”
Draper also revealed that she has since undergone a second breast augmentation to make her breasts fit her petite frame better, and declared she is getting “no more surgeries.”
What Happened After the Procedure?
According to Draper’s account, the timeline unfolded as follows:
The original procedure: Draper went in for an upper and lower blepharoplasty. During the consultation, her doctor suggested fat grafting to fill in her eyes. She agreed to let the doctor determine what would make her look “balanced.”
Unexpected results: The doctor took fat from her legs and injected it into her jaw, lips, and eyes. Draper said she did not ask for fat to be placed in her lips and that it was never discussed.
Initial reaction: Draper said she was “very upset” upon seeing the results, describing herself as looking “so swollen and puffy” on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Corrective attempts: She underwent Kybella injections to try to dissolve the fat. She described the period as “months” of being swollen and puffy, followed by approximately nine months of trying to address the outcome.
Previous public comments: In March 2026, Draper posted an emotional TikTok video in which she said she was “extremely unhappy” with her results and that she felt the surgery had “ruined my life.” She also stated she “did not want” the fat grafting and wished she had asked more questions beforehand.
Latest update: In her September podcast appearance, Draper reiterated her regret and stated she is finished with surgical procedures.
What Was the Plastic Surgery Procedure?
The primary procedure Draper discussed is fat grafting, also known as fat injection. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is a surgical procedure that transfers a patient’s own fat tissue from one area of the body to another to restore natural curves and fullness.
Draper also underwent an upper and lower blepharoplasty, which the Mayo Clinic describes as a procedure that removes excess skin from the eyelids. Draper stated she did not believe she needed the blepharoplasty either, attributing her decision to the pressure she felt to look a certain way in the public eye.
In an attempt to correct the fat grafting results, Draper received Kybella injections. Kybella is an FDA-approved treatment that uses a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid to destroy fat cells. It is approved specifically for treating submental fullness — excess fat under the chin. Its use for other areas of the face is considered off-label.
It is important to note that these descriptions explain the general nature of these procedures. They do not constitute medical advice, and Draper’s experience is her personal account, not a universal outcome.
Jessi Draper’s Previous Comments About the Surgery
Draper has been discussing her plastic surgery regrets for several months. In a March 6, 2026, TikTok video, she first publicly expressed deep dissatisfaction with her results.
“I want to tell everyone that I am extremely unhappy with my results and I didn’t quite understand what I was getting into, to be honest,” she said at the time. “I went in for a lower bleph and then I asked about an upper bleph and ended up getting that. Did not want fat grafting, to be honest. I just listened to a suggestion, not really understanding what it was.”
She also revealed that the fat grafting had been placed in her lips, which she “didn’t ask for and didn’t want,” causing them to appear “really lumpy.” She described feeling that the surgery had “ruined my life” and that she looked “hideous” throughout season 5.
In a March 2026 interview with Allure, Draper elaborated on the emotional toll of the experience, saying she had been “blinded” by self-confidence issues and had “gone way too far.” She stated that she would “never touch my face again outside of botox.”
The September 21 podcast appearance represents an extension of these earlier comments, with Draper providing additional detail about the nine-month corrective process and her current determination to avoid further surgeries.
Who Is Jessi Draper?
Jessi Draper is a reality television personality and hairstylist best known as a cast member on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. She is part of the “MomTok” influencer collective featured on the show.
Before her reality TV career, Draper trained in cosmetology and built a successful business as the owner of JZ Styles, a Utah-based salon and hair school. She began building an online presence in 2016 by posting hairstyling tutorials on YouTube.
Draper was previously married to Jordan Ngatikaura, with whom she shares two children. The couple’s relationship struggles, including Draper’s public admission of an emotional affair with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette, became major storylines on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Ngatikaura filed for divorce in March 2026.
Why Her Plastic Surgery Comments Are Getting Attention
Draper’s comments are attracting attention for several reasons. As a cast member on one of Hulu’s most talked-about reality series, her personal updates reach a large and engaged audience. Her willingness to speak openly about cosmetic procedures — including the regret and emotional difficulty that can accompany them — is notable in a genre where such topics are often avoided or glossed over.
The specific timeline she described is also unusual. While recovery periods vary by procedure and individual, a nine-month process of attempting to address an unwanted outcome is a significant period of time that Draper has characterized as a “nightmare.”
Additionally, Draper’s comments touch on broader conversations about body image, public scrutiny, and the pressure women in the public eye face regarding their appearance. She stated that being on reality TV and receiving comments about her looks has made her “body dysmorphia worse.”
What Jessi Draper’s Experience Does — and Does Not — Tell Us
It is important to place Draper’s comments in appropriate context. Cosmetic surgery outcomes vary widely between individuals. Recovery experiences differ based on the specific procedures performed, the individual’s health and healing process, and the skill and technique of the practitioner.
Draper’s account is her own personal experience. It does not establish that fat grafting, blepharoplasty, or Kybella are inherently unsafe or ineffective, nor does it constitute a medical judgment about the care she received. Photographs cannot establish medical complications, and a person’s dissatisfaction with a result does not necessarily mean the procedure was medically unsuccessful.
Readers considering any cosmetic procedure should consult qualified medical professionals and make decisions based on their own circumstances. This article does not provide medical advice.
What Is Known About Her Current Situation
According to her most recent public comments, Draper has stated that she is done with surgeries. She mentioned undergoing a second breast augmentation to reduce her breast size, describing it as a change to better fit her frame, and declared “No more surgeries.”
She has not indicated whether the fat grafting results have fully resolved or whether she remains dissatisfied. The available reporting does not establish what further treatments, if any, she may pursue. Draper has not publicly confirmed any upcoming corrective procedures.
Jessi Draper and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is a reality television series that follows a group of Mormon women in Utah who gained viral fame as the “MomTok” collective. The show premiered on Hulu and became a breakout hit, drawing attention for its exploration of the tensions between traditional religious expectations and modern social media culture.
Draper is a principal cast member and has been central to several of the show’s major storylines, including her marital difficulties and her emotional affair with Brunette. Season 5 of the series premiered on September 10, 2026, after production was paused earlier in the year due to legal issues involving fellow cast member Taylor Frankie Paul.
Draper’s surgery regrets were documented during the filming of season 5, which is why she stated that she looks “swollen” and “puffy” throughout the season’s episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Jessi Draper?
Jessi Draper is a cast member on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and the owner of JZ Styles, a Utah-based salon and hair school. She is part of the “MomTok” influencer collective.
2. What did Jessi Draper say about her plastic surgery?
She said she was “very upset” with the results of her latest procedures, particularly fat grafting she says she never wanted. She described the nine months following the procedure as a “nightmare” spent trying to fix the outcome.
3. Why did Jessi Draper describe the nine months as a “nightmare”?
She said she was swollen and puffy for months, that the fat grafting was placed in her lips without her consent, and that she had to undergo Kybella injections to try to dissolve the fat.
4. What plastic surgery did Jessi Draper have?
She underwent an upper and lower blepharoplasty and fat grafting. According to her account, her doctor suggested the fat grafting during a consultation and placed fat in her eyes, jaw, and lips.
5. Did Jessi Draper say she regrets her plastic surgery?
Yes. She has called the fat grafting her “biggest regret” and stated she wishes she had not done it. She also said she regrets the blepharoplasty, believing she did not need it.
6. What did Jessi Draper do to try to fix the results?
She said she received Kybella injections to try to dissolve the fat that had been grafted into her face.
7. What is Kybella?
Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable treatment used to reduce fat under the chin. Its use in other areas of the face is considered off-label.
8. Is Jessi Draper still dealing with the results of her surgery?
She has not provided a definitive update on whether the results have fully resolved. In her September 2026 comments, she reiterated her regrets but did not state whether the issue was completely resolved.
9. What show is Jessi Draper on?
She stars on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which streams on Hulu.
10. When did Jessi Draper discuss her plastic surgery?
She first spoke about her dissatisfaction in March 2026 and provided additional details during a September 21, 2026, appearance on the CHEERS! with Avery Woods podcast.