Temple Hollowing Treatment: How to Lift a Tired Upper Face

11th April 2026 by Dr Rekha Tailor

What is temple hollowing treatment?

Temple hollowing treatment is a non-surgical procedure using hyaluronic acid dermal filler to restore lost volume to the temporal region — the area between the outer brow and the . As the face ages, the temporal bone loses density, the temporal fat pads shrink, and the muscle in bulk, creating a hollow at the side of the face. Restoring this volume lifts the tail of the brow, reduces upper eyelid heaviness, and improves facial without or downtime.

There is a tell-tale sign of ageing that most people cannot quite put their finger on. Patients sit across from me and say they look even when they are not, or that has shifted but they cannot identify what. They have noticed , perhaps, or a little drooping around the jowls. But often, when I look at their face as a whole, the culprit is far less obvious: their temples.

Temple is, in my view, one of the most underappreciated to facial ageing. And treating it is one of the most things I do in clinic.

What Causes Hollow Temples?

To understand why temples matter so much, you need to think about the face not as a collection of features, but as a three-dimensional by bone, fat, muscle, and skin, all working in .

From our mid-thirties onwards, we lose bone density in the skull, including the bone. The fat pads in the region, and there are several of them, begin to shrink and . The temporalis muscle, which runs through this area, Hormone replacement therapy (hrt/bhrt) also loses volume over time. The result is a gradual caving inward of the area that sits the outer edge of the eyebrow and the .

What this does to the face is . When the temples hollow, the skin and soft tissue above the brow loses its support. The tail of the brow drops. The upper eyelid can start to look heavy or hooded. Cheekbones can appear less prominent, because the scaffolding above them has subtly collapsed. The face acquires a slightly skeletal quality, in profile, that reads unmistakably as age and .

It is worth noting that temple volume loss does not discriminate. I see it in in their late thirties, and I see it quite dramatically in patients who have lost weight rapidly, who exercise intensely, or who have very lean body generally. In those cases, the can appear even before other signs of facial ageing become prominent.

Why Temple Hollowing Is So Often Overlooked

Most people seeking treatments focus on the middle and lower face: the nasolabial folds, the lips, the . And I understand why; these are the that tend to the most and cause the most . But treating the lower face in isolation, volume loss higher up, can produce that look slightly off without anyone being able to say precisely why.

Think of it like renovating a house from the ground floor up while the roof is sagging. You can polish the floors and repaint the walls, but structurally, something still feels wrong.

When I treat the temples before or other areas, patients notice that the whole face appears lifted, not just the temples themselves. The brow sits higher. The upper eyelid more open. Cheekbones look more defined. It is one of those where the impact is but transformative, and where are often surprised by how much difference a single, can make.

This is also why I always assess the upper face during consultations, even when a patient comes in asking about something else entirely. Temple is the underlying cause of concerns that to other areas: hooded eyes, a heavy brow, general facial . Addressing it changes the whole .

How Temple Filler Treatment Works

Temple augmentation using is a well-established, safe, and effective when performed by an experienced and trained practitioner. I use hyaluronic acid fillers, a substance that occurs naturally in the body, to volume to the region.

The key to good temple is precision and restraint. This is not an area to . The goal is to a gentle convexity, a subtle curve, that echoes what was there in youth. Done well, it should be completely undetectable. The aim is never for someone to look as though they have had a procedure; it is for them to look refreshed, healthy, and like themselves.

The injections are placed carefully, with a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the region. The temple contains important blood vessels, and I take great care to work safely around these at all times. In my clinic, I use needles or on the specific area being and the patient’s . Every patient is unique, and the approach is always to every individual.

typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes and involves minimal downtime. Most patients return to their normal the same day, but I advise avoiding exercise and significant heat for the first 24 hours. There may be mild swelling or occasional bruising in the days immediately following treatment, but this settles quickly.

Results are visible immediately, though the filler continues to integrate and settle over the following two weeks, at which point I review every . The results typically last between 12 and 18 months, though this varies depending on the individual’s metabolism, lifestyle, and the product used.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Temple Filler?

Temple filler is to patients who have visible or concavity in the temporal region, whether due to natural ageing, rapid weight loss, exercise, or facial structure. I see it in from their onwards, and there is no upper age limit, provided a is in good general health.

The treatment may not be appropriate for with a history of anaphylaxis or severe reactions, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or those with active infection near the area. The best way to assess is always through a thorough consultation. There is no for seeing the face in person and what the patient actually wants to .

Aftercare: What to Expect After Temple Filler

The aftercare for temple filler is straightforward. For the first 24 hours, I ask patients to avoid strenuous exercise, significant heat (saunas, steam rooms, very hot showers), and alcohol. I also sleeping on the back rather than the side to avoid pressure on the during the period, and the area alone — no pressing, massaging, or applying makeup directly over the injection sites.

Any swelling or bruising, where it occurs, resolves within seven to ten days. I review all patients at the mark, at which point the filler has integrated fully, and the results can be assessed.

The Wider Impact on the Face

What I find most compelling about temple treatment, and what I think justifies its place at the heart of any upper face plan, is the cascade of it produces elsewhere. volume to the temples creates a lifting effect on the tail of the brow, which in turn opens up the upper eyelid and reduces the appearance of heaviness or . It improves the overall of the face when viewed from the side, restoring the smooth, gently curved silhouette that a youthful profile.

For patients who are considering blepharoplasty, eyelid correction, for what appears to be excess upper eyelid skin, I always recommend assessing the temples first. In a meaningful number of cases, temporal volume reduces or the apparent hooding without the need for surgery at all. That is not to say surgery is never the right answer, but it should not be the first answer when non-surgical remain unexplored.

Is Temple Hollowing Treatment Right for You?

If your face looks tired despite adequate sleep, if your brows appear to have dropped, if your upper eyelids feel than they once did, or if you simply sense that something has changed without being able to identify exactly what, it is worth having your temples assessed.

The best outcomes always come from a thorough, unhurried consultation in which the face is as a whole, with accordingly. At Health and Aesthetics, that is the I take with every patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Results typically last 12 to 18 months, though this varies with metabolism, lifestyle, and the product used. Patients who may find results settle sooner. Subsequent treatments often last longer.

Yes. volume to the region provides structural support for the tissue above the brow, allowing the tail of the brow to sit higher. For patients with early brow ptosis, this can reduce the of .

Yes. acid can be using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This reversibility is one of the most important safety advantages of HA over permanent alternatives.

Common side include swelling, redness, bruising, and at the site — all of which within seven to ten days. Serious complications, including occlusion, are rare in experienced hands.

Most patients return to normal activities the same day. Strenuous exercise and heat should be avoided for 24 hours. Any swelling or bruising typically resolves within 7–10 days.

Dr. Rekha Tailor, and Medical of Health & Aesthetics, is an esteemed Aesthetic Practitioner and General Practitioner, educated at Medical School. With a career spanning NHS and general practice, she shifted to full-time aesthetic medicine in 2005. Known for her results and gentle approach, she is a member of the College of Aesthetic Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her dedication to excellence is reflected in numerous awards, her clinic as a leader in aesthetic .

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