Kelly Ripa Off 'Live' After Gum Graft Surgery

Kelly Ripa, 55, was absent from Live with Kelly and Mark on Monday, July 27, 2026, after undergoing gum graft surgery, leaving her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos to explain the absence to a live studio audience.

What Consuelos Told Viewers

Consuelos opened Monday's show alongside guest co-host Kevin Jonas and addressed Ripa's empty chair immediately. "Kelly sends her love," he told the audience. "Kelly had a little bit, well, it's not a little, she had a gum graft surgery."

He told viewers that Ripa's dentist first recommended the surgery roughly five years ago. Ripa's response at the time was that she joked she didn't think she'd still be on the air by then.

The recovery instructions, Consuelos said, are strict: Ripa is under doctor's orders not to speak, to eat only soft foods, and to avoid using straws. "I'm trying to keep her following the rules, following the directions," he told Jonas on air.

He also noted that Ripa routinely skips novocaine at the dentist, but not this time. "She doesn't use the novocaine," Consuelos told Jonas. "But this one hurts, so I know it's bad."

Jonas joked that the no-talking requirement was probably the hardest part of the recovery. Consuelos laughed and agreed.

What Gum Graft Surgery Involves

Gum graft surgery is a standard periodontal procedure performed when gum tissue has receded or thinned, exposing tooth roots. According to Cleveland Clinic, the procedure involves transferring tissue, typically from the palate, to the affected area, and it is among the most commonly performed periodontal surgeries in the United States.

Recovery typically lasts one to two weeks, during which patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity, stick to soft foods, and rest the surgical site. Consuelos's account of Ripa's recovery instructions, no speaking, soft diet, no straws, is consistent with standard post-operative guidance.

The procedure corrects a condition that, if left untreated, can accelerate bone loss around the teeth and increase sensitivity.

Who Is Filling In This Week

A show representative confirmed that Ripa is expected to be away from Live for approximately one week, with guest co-hosts rotating through the desk in her absence.

Kevin Jonas joined Consuelos on both Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28. The official Live with Kelly and Mark weekly schedule lists Mila Kunis on Wednesday, July 29, Pamela Adlon on Thursday, July 30, and Scott Foley on Friday, July 31, each serving as guest co-host during Ripa's recovery.

Live with Kelly and Mark is syndicated nationally by Disney Entertainment and produced by WABC-TV in New York. Ripa has co-hosted the programme since 2001, originally alongside Regis Philbin. Consuelos became her permanent co-host in April 2023.

Ripa's Expected Return

The show representative confirmed that Ripa would be away for approximately one week. No specific return date has been confirmed by the show.

The surgery was long-planned, and Ripa chose to delay it. Her recovery requires that she not speak, which determined the timing of her absence from the show.