Filling sunken temples
Sunken temples can make you look tired or sometimes older, even when you feel perfectly fit. The temple lies between the outer corner of the eye, the eyebrow and the hairline, and this is precisely where many people gradually lose volume. At Cosmopolitan Clinic in Amsterdam, our BIG-registered doctors fill sunken temples with fillers, making the upper part of your face look fuller and more rested again.
On this page, you can read how sunken temples develop, what temple filler treatment does, how it works, what results you can expect and what it costs.
Table of contents
- What are sunken temples?
- What fillers do for the temples
- Which filler is right for your temples?
- The treatment step by step
- Results and longevity
- Recovery and aftercare
- Who is the treatment suitable for?
- How much does it cost to fill sunken temples?
- Frequently asked questions
What are sunken temples?
The temple is the area at the side of your forehead, between the outer corner of the eye, the eyebrow and the hairline. In a youthful face, this area is gently filled and the line from the forehead to the cheekbone flows smoothly. As we age, we lose fatty tissue in the face, while the muscular and bony support beneath the skin gradually decreases. As a result, the temples (the temporal area) become increasingly hollow. The skin also produces less collagen, causing it to lose some support.
A sunken temple can quickly make you look tired or older. The rim of the eye socket becomes more prominent, and sometimes a vein or the edge of the bone becomes visible, making the upper part of the face look narrower. In addition to ageing, significant weight loss, intensive exercise or a naturally slim face can also make the temples look sunken.
What fillers do for the temples
Using a filler, the doctor restores volume in the temple at the appropriate depth. This fills the hollow and creates a smooth transition from the forehead to the cheekbone. Fillers restore volume in the temples, bringing the contours around the eyes back into balance. This gives you a fresher, more youthful appearance.
Because the temple lies just above and beside the eyebrow, adding some support here can also subtly affect the eyes: the outer brow is gently supported and the eye area looks more open. The temples are often treated together with the cheekbones, because these two areas support the upper face together. The aim is always a natural result that suits your face, with enough volume to make you look rested without it being obvious that anything has been done.
Which filler is right for your temples?
Two main types of filler are generally used for the temples. Hyaluronic acid fillers provide immediate volume, can be precisely adjusted and can be dissolved again if necessary. Biostimulating fillers, such as calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) or poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra), add volume while also stimulating the skin to produce its own collagen. They often last longer, making the temples a suitable area for this approach.
The filler that suits you best depends on your skin, the extent of the volume loss and your wishes. Our doctor will discuss this with you during the consultation and will consider your face as a whole.
The treatment step by step
Every treatment starts with a consultation. The doctor assesses the shape of your temple, your skin and the extent of the volume loss, and creates a plan with you. The skin is then cleansed and marked.
The temple is an area where blood vessels run close beneath the skin. That is why the doctor works with detailed anatomical knowledge and a careful technique. Depending on your situation, this is done with a fine needle, placing the filler deep against the bone, or with a blunt cannula that moves around the vessels and reduces the chance of bruising. The filler is placed at the appropriate depth, after which the doctor gently massages the area for an even result. The treatment takes approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Anaesthesia is usually not necessary, as most fillers already contain a local anaesthetic.
Results and longevity
With a hyaluronic acid filler, the result is largely visible immediately and continues to settle during the first two weeks as any mild swelling subsides. A biostimulating filler usually builds results more gradually and continues working for longer by stimulating your own collagen production. On average, a hyaluronic acid filler remains visible in the temples for around nine to eighteen months. Because the temples move very little, the result often lasts somewhat longer there than in areas that move a lot. Biostimulating fillers generally last even longer. Exactly how long the result lasts varies from person to person and depends on your skin, age and lifestyle. A maintenance treatment helps preserve the result.
Recovery and aftercare
After the treatment, you can usually carry on with your day as normal. To help maintain the result, we will give you a few recommendations:
- Do not touch or massage your temples for the first 48 hours, so the filler stays in place.
- Avoid strenuous exercise on the first day, and stay out of the sauna, tanning bed and strong sunlight for two weeks.
- You can cool a bruise or mild swelling and later camouflage it with a little make-up once the injection sites have closed.
Who is the treatment suitable for?
The treatment is suitable for adults with sunken temples who want to restore some volume to the upper face in a natural way, without surgery. This may be volume loss due to ageing, but can also be a naturally slim face or sunken temples after weight loss. The treatment is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in the case of an active skin infection at the treatment site or with certain allergies. Not sure whether it is right for you? Your doctor will give you honest advice during the consultation.
How much does it cost to fill sunken temples?
At Cosmopolitan Clinic, filling sunken temples with fillers costs from 450 euros. The final price depends on the amount and type of filler required. During the consultation, you will receive a clear quote in advance, so there are never any surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How long do temple fillers last?
A hyaluronic acid filler remains visible for an average of nine to eighteen months. Because the temple moves very little, the result often lasts somewhat longer there than in areas that move more. Biostimulating fillers generally last even longer.
Does filling the temples hurt?
Most people find the treatment very manageable. The doctor uses a fine needle or a blunt cannula, and most fillers already contain a local anaesthetic, so you will usually feel no more than a small prick.
Won’t it look puffy?
No, provided the right amount and technique are used. Our doctors build up the volume subtly, so your temples look filled again while your face continues to move naturally.
How much filler is needed for the temples?
This varies from person to person and depends on the extent of the volume loss. Often, around half to one millilitre per side is enough. The doctor will determine this during your consultation.
Is temple filler treatment safe?
Yes, provided it is performed by an experienced, BIG-registered doctor. Because blood vessels run through the temple, anatomical knowledge and a careful technique are important. Our doctors take particular care in this area.
Can I combine temple treatment with other areas?
Yes. The temples are often treated together with the cheekbones or the tear troughs, so the upper face and eye area look balanced as a whole. Your doctor will advise you on what will give the most beautiful result in your case.
