Kelly Ripa’s future on Live with Kelly and Mark after painful surgery has finally been confirmed

Live with Kelly and Mark fans are going to have to wait longer than expected before their queen, Kelly Ripa, returns.

After missing the past two weeks while recovering from a painful gum graft surgery, Ripa’s first live show back is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, when Live returns for its 39th season.

While fans won’t see her back live until September, they’ll still get to catch Ripa beginning Aug. 10 as Live continues airing new host chats and previously recorded interviews before the show’s summer break officially wraps up.

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Ripa has been out since late July, with her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos welcoming a rotating lineup of celebrity guest hosts, including Kevin Jonas, Sarah Chalke, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Buteau, Chrissy Metz, and Carrie Coon. 

Throughout her recovery, Consuelos has kept viewers updated, assuring fans that she’s doing “great” despite being under strict doctor’s orders not to speak.

“Kelly sends her love,” Consuelos said when announcing her absence with Kevin Jonas on July 27th. He later joked that keeping his famously chatty wife quiet may have been the hardest part of her recovery.

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The TV couple also shared some behind-the-scenes moments from home, with Consuelos revealing Ripa became so curious about her healing that she tried convincing him to inspect the surgery site. He refused to pull down her lip, but eventually gave in enough to reassure her that “it looks great.”

Per the American Academy of Periodontology, a gum graft is used to treat gum recession by covering exposed tooth roots with gum tissue. The procedure can help reduce sensitivity, protect the roots from decay and further recession, and improve the appearance of the gumline.

According to Consuelos, Ripa rarely complains about pain, so he knows this one is bad because she’s feeling it. “She famously doesn’t feel pain,” Consuelos said. “When she goes into the dentist, she doesn’t really use the novocaine. But this one hurts, so I know it’s bad.”

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The surgery had been years in the making. Mark explained, “Her dentist said five years ago, ‘You can do it in about five years,'” which made Ripa reflect on her time on the show. He said she admitted, “I didn’t think I’d still be on the air in five years!”