Facial Ageing
Loss of volume at the sides of the forehead that can create a sunken or aged appearance.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Temple Hollowing
Often people come in saying they look tired or a bit gaunt, without being able to say why. When we look together, it's frequently the temples: the soft area at the sides of the forehead has lost some of its fullness. Once you see it, it makes sense of the whole picture.
As we age, the fat layers in the temple thin, the muscle there gets a little smaller and the bone slowly reshapes, so the area sinks. That can leave the brow with less support and make the upper face look narrower. Gently restoring that fullness can soften the whole upper face and bring back a rested look. The temple has important blood vessels and nerves running through it, so this is an area our experienced physicians treat with particular care and precise technique.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The temple is supported by layers of fat, the temporalis muscle, and the underlying bone. With age these fat layers thin, the muscle can reduce in bulk, and the bone slowly remodels, so the area can appear sunken. Significant or rapid weight loss reduces fat here as elsewhere, and genetics influence how prominent the temples are to begin with. Because several tissue layers contribute, temple hollowing usually reflects a combination of changes.
Signs and Symptoms
Common features include:
Assessment
At your consultation, our physicians look at how your temples relate to your brow, eye socket, cheekbones and hairline, how deep the hollowing is, and the quality of your skin. Knowing the local anatomy, including where the vessels and nerves run, guides how and where we treat. We also make sure the hollowing fits normal change, then plan a temple and upper-face refresh around the look you want, your timing and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Daily broad-spectrum sun protection preserves the collagen that keeps the skin over the temples firm, and a retinoid supports skin quality over time. A hydrating moisturizer keeps the area smooth and supple between treatments. Our team can recommend products from our online shop that suit your skin.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
At our clinic, temple hollowing is treated as part of your whole upper face. Dermal fillers restore fullness here, using products such as hyaluronic acid fillers, Radiesse, HarmonyCa or Sculptra, which builds collagen gradually. Our experienced physicians place them carefully in the right layer, with the area's vessels and nerves always in mind, and your anatomy guides which product fits best.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
See a doctor if temple hollowing is rapid or marked, or comes with unexplained weight loss, fatigue, headaches, scalp tenderness, or jaw pain when chewing, as some of these can point to medical conditions that need prompt assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The temples lose fullness as the fat and muscle there thin and the bone gradually changes with age. Weight loss and genetics play a part too, so the pattern differs between people. If the weight loss was unintended or came with other symptoms, it's worth mentioning to a physician.
The temple has arteries, veins and nerves within its layers, so it calls for a detailed knowledge of anatomy and careful technique. Our experienced physicians assess your anatomy first, choose the product and depth to suit it, and explain the possible side effects before you decide.
Cost depends on the product chosen and how much your temples need, and some patients treat the temples alongside other areas of the face. You'll get clear pricing for your own plan at your consultation before you commit to anything.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
