Jenny McCarthy is opening up about a harrowing health battle that left her with multiple surgeries, lost teeth, and dramatic weight loss.
The former Playboy cover girl told People she endured nine mouth surgeries this year after what she says began as a simple infection.
She also revealed a jaw‑bone infection so severe it caused her implants and natural teeth to fall out.
Now 53, McCarthy shared that at her lowest she had to survive on soft foods while on antibiotics for a full year—an ordeal that showed in her slimmer frame ahead of the holidays. But after months of pain, swelling, and even growths on her eyes, she says the tide is finally turning.
A dental nightmare and nine surgeries
McCarthy said she underwent “nine surgeries this year, on my mouth.” She described how one infection turned into another and worse - ultimately revealing a deep bone infection in her jaw.
“I had one infection that turned into another and another, and then I had these growths show up on my eyeballs,” she told People. She said the jawbone infection caused her implants and natural teeth to fail. “My teeth were falling out, implants falling out.”
For a year she was on heavy antibiotics and confined to soft foods. “I’ve been on antibiotics for a year, and have had to eat soft foods only,” McCarthy said.
The surgeries were painful, the recovery slow, and she added: “I had two more mouth surgeries even after that photo was taken.” She sighed: “I’ve been pretty unlucky.”
Slim‑down reveal in holiday card
McCarthy’s health ordeal took a visible toll. In the 2025 Christmas card she and her husband Donnie Wahlberg sent out, she appeared thinner than ever in a red bikini. The slim appearance wasn’t a style choice - it was a painful side effect of her condition and recovery.
She admitted to People that all the swelling, pain, and inability to chew enough calories caused the weight loss.
“All of the swelling and pain kept her from eating enough calories,” she said. The weight loss was not driven by diet trends either. She previously denied relying on weight‑loss drugs, stating: ‘I’m not an Ozempic person,’ as she favors a 'permanent solution' to weight loss instead.
McCarthy said her health crisis began with a badly failed ceramic dental implant, which triggered the deep jaw infection and forced multiple surgeries.
She described how the dental disaster unfolded: “They finally had to dig into my jawbone and chipped away, and found I had a deep bone infection.”
The ordeal erased her teeth and implants, and caused swelling, pain, and even abnormalities like growths on her eyes.
Part of her struggle included periods when she would be in “massive pain with my jaw swelling up,” and simultaneously deal with strange eye growths. “People should actually feel a little sorry for me!” she said.
Recovery now and holiday hopes with Donnie
There is cautious optimism. McCarthy said she’s “able to chew again.” The long stretch of surgeries and soft diets appears to be behind her. She told People: “I think I’m past the storm,” and added with relief: “I’m about to chow down!”
Her focus has shifted to reconnecting with husband Donnie Wahlberg. She lamented how their busy work schedules - she’s filming The Masked Singer in Los Angeles while he’s in Canada shooting Boston Blue - have kept them apart.
“It’s been a little tricky-wicky getting together,” she said. The couple plan to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together in Chicago, just the two of them, sharing home‑cooked meals.
McCarthy sounded hopeful about returning to holiday traditions. She said she and Wahlberg fondly shared memories of growing up with classic dishes like French’s green bean casserole. By getting past this health nightmare, she’s excited to revisit those old comforts with new gratitude.