Jessi Ngatikaura from “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Shares Her Journey After Surgery and Focus on Healing

Reality TV Star Jessi Ngatikaura Shares Recovery Journey After Surgery

Jessi Ngatikaura, star of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," is on the mend following recent plastic surgery procedures. The 33-year-old actress, formerly known as Jessi Draper, spoke about her recovery during an exclusive interview at Clarins’ Sugar & Shine Galentine’s Affair held in Los Angeles on January 29.

“I’m done with surgery, for sure,” Ngatikaura said. “I’m good, but I’m still in the healing process, too.” She added, "I’m just going to let things settle and I’ll be good."

Earlier this month, Ngatikaura revealed that she underwent an upper and lower blepharoplasty along with fat grafting to address excess skin on her face. In a TikTok video dated January 15, she addressed her followers, stating, “I am three weeks post-op from my face surgery and this is not my final result… I don’t want anyone thinking this is what I want to look like.”

Ngatikaura expressed that the surgeries had prompted an "identity crisis" as her swelling altered her appearance. “I knew what to expect but it still is kind of an identity crisis when you look in the mirror and you don’t look like yourself,” she remarked.

The reality star emphasized the importance of candidly sharing her experiences, including discussions about her self-confidence struggles. “Trying to have confidence has been hard, but it’s been good for me to be transparent,” she noted. “A lot of people in the industry do it, they just don’t share the healing process.”

Ngatikaura, who has a personal connection to beauty through family ties—her mother is a hairstylist—continues to explore new beauty techniques and techniques related to hair and makeup. “…If you can keep it fresh, it makes it exciting to get ready,” she said.

Ngatikaura’s experiences have been documented on Hulu’s "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," which is currently filming its fourth season. She shared insights about the ongoing filming, stating, “We’re [on] the reality show that never stops because our lives are so crazy.” The series is set to return to Hulu on March 12.

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Clarins USA