The temples are among our most unassuming features. Unlike the other parts of our face, we do not conceal them with make-up, target them with anti-ageing serums or constantly worry about how to keep them plump. Well, that's until we are forced to.
What often escapes the eye often misses is that the temples are an essential factor in presenting a youthful, balanced, and healthy face shape.
The challenge is the temples are actually the narrowest and thinnest part of the face. When we look at a face in three dimensions, we realise that the temples are not only extremely thin but also cup downwards.
The skin on the outside of this concavity is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face. It is only about a millimetre or less thick, so the skin can not really fill it in.
Because the temples are so thin and naturally hollow, they are more prone to deflation than other parts of the face. The plumpness gradually disappears with each decade of life and happens much faster after you turn 50.
Related: The 3 Ds of Skin Ageing
And that's not all: when our temples start to shrink, they also alter the surrounding facial structures.
Sunken temples can aggravate crow's feet, make cheekbones appear exaggerated and make eyebrows look heavy, with the brow tail seemingly dropping off a cliff.
This affects not only how we perceive ourselves but also how other people perceive us. People subconsciously make quick judgements on age just by reading the head shape of the people they interact with.
Which is bigger: the eyebrows or the nose? The cheekbones or the chin? The eyes or the forehead? We do all this within three seconds.
A gaunt, depressed temple generally creates a concave area that sucks in light, making the person appear aged and less healthy.
The Solution: Temple Fillers
People often come to our clinic asking for other treatments and are surprised when we recommend temple fillers. These injectable fillers can restore the temples to their former proportions, softening the sharpness of the lateral forehead and bringing balance to the midface. Temple fillers also create a soft, flowing, crescent-shaped contour that catches the light and brightens the whole face. This has the added benefit of making you appear friendlier and more personable.
Interested in temple fillers? Book your treatment here.
In the meantime, here are a few more things you should know to get the best results for your face.
Some people are more prone to temple hollowing.
The temporal fat pad "is very sensitive to cardiovascular activity. That's why people who are very athletic or exercise a lot are more prone to temporal hollows and deflated cheeks. Then there is the natural fat atrophy that comes with ageing. You have a recipe for a skeletal-looking face.
The temples are a danger zone.
While there is no area of the face where an injection is 100% safe, certain areas are riskier than others because of the vascular system in this region.
Temples are considered a danger zone for filler injection. The superficial temporal artery is an end artery, and accidental injection into this artery can lead to compromised blood supply to certain parts of the forehead.
An even greater risk is that certain vessels in the temple may be connected to the blood supply to the retina. Injecting filler into a facial artery can restrict blood flow to the skin leading to necrosis (death of the skin) or even permanent blindness.
It is very important that your injector understands temple anatomy of the temple. They also need to know how to target specific planes and place the filler only at safe depths where there are no vessels.
For an added safety measure, At Dr Aesthetica, we prefer to use a thin, blunt cannula where the risk of puncturing blood vessels is minimal.
There is no one-size-fits-all filler for the temples.
Depending on your needs, your injector may recommend a temporary filler like hyaluronic acid or a semi-permanent filler like Radiesse. This area's most commonly used fillers include Juvederm Voluma, Restylane Lyft, Radiesse and Sculptra. Hyaluronic acid fillers are a standard recommendation for getting fillers for the first time.
For people with more advanced hollowing, Radiesse may be a better choice as it stimulates collagen production in the area and tends to deliver longer-lasting results. However, unlike HA, Radiesse is not reversible, so injecting them safely requires above-average skills and expertise.
Temporal fillers are costlier.
Given the large area and volume loss typical of the temples, filling this area can be costlier than other fillers. As already mentioned, most patients are initially unaware of the impact of temple hollowing. As a result, they may be hesistant to spend in this area. But now that you know the effect of temple fillers and hopefully can experience the transformation, you will find that they are a worthwhile investment.
The last thing you want is to overfill the temples.
It's not common to overfill your temples - as you already need a substantial amount of product to fill the area. But when it happens, it does not look good at all! Excessive volume can cause the top half of the face to look exaggerated, giving the face an unbalanced and asymmetrical look.
Overfilled temples often are a by-product of inexperienced injectors going too far and trying to smooth out neighbouring crow's feet or visibly "lift" the eyebrows by repeatedly pouring filler into the temples, which leads me to my next point.
The temples should not be treated in isolation.
If your temples are hollowed out, chances are good that other parts of your face also suffer from the ageing process.
To avoid an apparent disproportion and restore a sense of balance, always start with the assumption that the ageing process has affected the whole face. This is why at Dr Aesthetica, we assess and treat the face holistically rather than selectively with fillers.
Complementary treatments include adding structure and support to the mid-face with cheek fillers and smoothing wrinkles such as nasolabial folds in the lower face.
The exact injections that best complement the temple filler vary from patient to patient. All of our doctors stress the importance of balancing the cheeks and temples.
Do you want to learn:
- Hidden secrets on facial transformations
- How ageing affects the temple
- And how to reverse the effect of hollowing of the temples?
If that’s so then check out our next article for you here - The Hidden Secret to Transforming Your Face with Temple Filler.
Jaw pain is a common side effect of temple injections.
If you have ever had your temples filled in, you have probably noticed that the treatment comes with a surprising side effect: jaw soreness. The temporal muscle works with the masseter muscle (of the jaw) to open and close the mouth.
The injection into the temple may temporarily put pressure on the temporomandibular joint, leaving it sore for the first few days. This may make it difficult for you to open your mouth.
However, this is not a cause for concern. Once the swelling goes down, these symptoms subside relatively quickly.
Final Thoughts
If you're considering temple filler, it's even more imperative who is doing the injecting. Therefore, it is crucial that you seek treatment from an injector who understands the art of filling and restoring the natural look of the face.
This will also reduce the risk of complications. Find out how improving your hollow temples with dermal filler can improve the balance of your face shape and give you a more youthful face by calling us on 0121 769 0242 or book online to schedule a consultation.
