Temple Augmentation
The hollows at the sides of your forehead become fuller again, so the line that runs from your forehead down to your cheekbone looks softer and more connected, and your profile looks fresher and more balanced while still looking like you.
Is this right for you?
The temples are the areas on either side of your head, sitting above and outside the tail of the brow, between the outer edge of the eye socket and the hairline. In some people this area is naturally a little hollow; in others, the fat and the cushioning layer under the skin thin out over time, so the temples sink. That can make the bony rim of the eye socket more visible and leave the sides of the face looking sharper or more drawn. Temple augmentation is a procedure that adds volume back to this area. One widely accepted approach is fat grafting, where fat is taken from another part of your body and placed into the temple; a non-surgical option is a filler injection. Below is how to tell whether this approach fits you.
This may be a good fit if
- Your main concern is a hollow or sunken temple that makes the line from your forehead to your cheekbone look broken, or your profile look less full.
- You want a modest, natural change to soften the sides of your face, rather than a large reshaping.
- If you choose fat grafting, you have enough fat in a suitable area such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs to use as a graft.
- You are well enough to go through the procedure and any anesthesia, with no underlying conditions that are not under control.
- You have realistic expectations and understand that with fat grafting, some of the fat is reabsorbed over a few months, so a top-up session is sometimes needed.
This may not be right if
- Your concern lies mainly elsewhere, such as a low brow tail, hollow cheeks, or sagging in the mid-face. In that case another approach may suit you better, and your doctor will talk it through with you.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding; it is usually best to wait.
- You have an underlying condition, such as a bleeding disorder or uncontrolled diabetes, that makes anesthesia or healing risky, or you have an active infection of the face or scalp.
- You expect a dramatic change, a fixed result that never shifts, or an outcome that will look exactly like a photo you bring in.
How it works
Everything starts with a consultation. Your doctor will listen to what you hope for, examine your temples in person, and assess how hollow they are, how thick the tissue is, and how balanced the two sides are, while also looking at the line from your forehead to the brow tail and cheekbone. Your doctor will also ask about your health history and any medicines you take. This is the time to be clear about your expectations and to agree together on the right approach for your face, whether fat grafting or a filler injection, along with how much volume makes sense for you.
There are a few things to prepare beforehand. You will be told to stop certain medicines that can cause bleeding, and to have any tests the chosen method calls for. With fat grafting, the procedure is often done under local anesthesia, which may be paired with light sedation to help you relax; this means the treated area is numbed while you stay awake. In some cases another form of anesthesia may be used. The exact type is your doctor's decision, based on your health and how much work is involved.
With fat grafting, your doctor first takes fat from a donor area, usually the abdomen or thigh, using a thin tube through a few very small incisions; this step is called liposuction. The harvested fat is processed and cleaned to keep the healthy tissue. Your doctor then places the prepared fat into the temple in many small layers, through a very fine needle or tube, shaping it gradually so the two sides look full and even. The temple has blood vessels and nerve branches sitting at different layers, so your doctor works carefully along the correct anatomical plane. Because some of the fat will be reabsorbed, your doctor often places a little more than the final amount you both expect to keep.
If you choose a filler injection instead of fat grafting, your doctor numbs the skin and then injects filler into the right layer of the temple to replace volume. This is a gentler procedure and usually does not need a donor area. With either method, the entry points or injection points are usually very small. The total time varies from one person to the next and by method.
Realistic expectations
The aim of the procedure is to replace the volume that is missing at the temple, so the sides of your face look softer and your profile looks fuller and more balanced; it is not about creating a new face. This is a modest, subtle change. With fat grafting, the amount of fat that stays varies from person to person, and the final result needs time to settle.
What this will not do
- It will not lift the brow tail or address loose skin around the eyes or temples; that is a separate concern that may need a different approach.
- It will not fill hollow cheeks or other areas of the face; this procedure focuses on the temple.
- With fat grafting, it will not keep all of the fat that was placed; some is reabsorbed over the first few months, so the final result is more subtle than it looks right after the procedure.
- It will not make the two sides perfectly even; everyone's face already has small differences between the two sides, and that may still be present afterward.
Recovery
Recovery happens in stages and is usually gentle. Most people go home the same day. You will see swelling, and possibly bruising, at the temple, and with fat grafting at the donor area too; most of the discomfort is mild to moderate and is managed with medicine your doctor prescribes. The milestones below are general estimates; your own recovery may be faster or slower.
- The first few days
- Swelling, and possibly bruising, at the temple is most noticeable; with fat grafting, the donor area swells and bruises too. You keep your head raised when resting, use cold compresses as directed, keep the treated area clean, and avoid bending over or straining.
- About 1 to 2 weeks
- The early bruising and swelling start to fade. If there is a small incision at the donor area, this is usually when it is checked or stitches are removed. Many people return to light work during this time, though the temple may still look fuller than the final result.
- About 4 to 6 weeks
- Most of the outward swelling settles, and you gradually return to exercise and sport once your doctor allows it. The contour is more settled now, but it is not the final result.
- About 3 to 6 months
- With fat grafting, the reabsorption is complete and the fat that remains is considered stable for the long term; this is the time to assess the result and, if needed, to discuss a top-up session. With a filler injection, the result is seen almost right away but fades over time and needs repeating when you want to keep it.
Risks & safety
Every procedure carries risk, and you deserve to understand it clearly before you decide. Most of these problems do not happen, but they can, especially because the temple has blood vessels and nerve branches sitting close together. Talk openly with your doctor about the points below.
- Swelling and bruising at the temple, and with fat grafting at the donor area too, usually lasting a few days to a few weeks.
- With fat grafting: uneven reabsorption that leaves the result less full than hoped or the two sides slightly uneven, sometimes needing a top-up session.
- An uneven surface, lumps, or firmness in the treated area; this mostly improves over time but does not always fully resolve.
- Bleeding, a collection of blood under the skin, or infection at the temple, and with fat grafting at the donor area too, which may need antibiotics or a procedure to treat.
- Numbness, reduced sensation, or an unusual feeling at the temple, usually temporary but sometimes lasting; small scars at the entry or injection points.
- Rare but serious: grafted material or filler entering a blood vessel in this area and blocking it, which can affect the skin or vision. This is why the procedure should be done by a doctor with thorough training who understands the anatomy of the temple.
- A result that does not match your expectations and the possibility of needing a corrective procedure later; along with the risks tied to anesthesia or sedation if either is used.
How we do it
The temple has blood vessels and nerve branches sitting at different layers, so adding volume here calls for a clear understanding of the anatomy and placing material in the correct, safe plane. For this reason, at The Gioi Dep the procedure is performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, under controlled, sterile conditions that follow a standard protocol. Before talking about technique, the doctors take time to examine your temples, assess how hollow they are and how balanced the two sides are, so the plan is built around your own face rather than a generic template.
The doctors talk to you honestly about whether fat grafting or a filler injection makes more sense, how much volume is reasonable, and what each method can truly do, even when what needs to be said is that the temple is not the right area for your concern, or that another approach fits your goals better. We have a clear follow-up process and specific guidance for each stage of recovery; with fat grafting, we schedule a review once the fat has settled and discuss together whether a top-up session is needed. You can always reach back out if something worries you.
Frequently asked questions
Does temple augmentation hurt?
The treated area is numbed, so you do not feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, most people have mild to moderate discomfort at the temple, and with fat grafting at the donor area too; this is managed with medicine your doctor prescribes and eases over the first few days.
Will the result look natural?
The aim is to replace the missing volume and soften the sides of your face quietly, not to make an obvious change. With fat grafting, because your own fat is used, the temple usually feels soft and natural. How much volume is added is discussed with you, based on your facial structure, to keep things balanced.
How long will I need off work?
Many people return to light work within about one to two weeks, once the swelling and bruising have eased, though the temple may still look fuller than the final result. Heavy work or strenuous activity should wait longer. The exact time depends on how much swelling and bruising you have and the nature of your work.
Will the scars be visible?
With fat grafting, the entry points used to harvest and place the fat are usually very small, so the scars are discreet and fade over time. With a filler injection, there are only very small injection points. How well scars heal varies from person to person, and your doctor will guide you on aftercare so they heal well.
How long does the result last?
With fat grafting, some of the fat is reabsorbed over the first few months; the part that remains after about three to six months is considered stable for the long term, though there is no way to say in advance exactly how much will stay. With a filler injection, the result fades over time and needs repeating when you want to keep it.
Will I need to have it done again?
You might. With fat grafting, because some of the fat is reabsorbed and the amount that stays varies from person to person, some people need a top-up session to reach the fullness they want. Your doctor usually waits for the fat to settle before deciding with you. With a filler injection, you will need repeat treatments to maintain it.
Should I choose fat grafting or a filler injection?
Fat grafting uses your own tissue, gives a soft, natural feel, and can last longer, but it needs a donor area and some of the fat is reabsorbed. A filler injection is gentler and shows a result almost right away, but it fades over time. Which one suits you depends on your goals and your structure, and your doctor will talk it through with you.
Am I too old for this?
Age on its own is not a barrier. What matters more is your overall health, the quality of your tissue and ability to heal, and with fat grafting, how much fat you have in a donor area. Your doctor will assess these factors during the consultation to see whether the approach suits you.
When will I see the final result?
With fat grafting, the temple looks fuller right after the procedure because of swelling and because a little extra fat is placed; once the swelling settles and the reabsorption is complete, usually after about three to six months, you see the final contour. With a filler injection, the result is seen almost right away, once the mild early swelling has gone.
What if the result is not what I hoped for, or the two sides are uneven?
Share your expectations from the consultation onward, so the plan stays close to what you want. Because faces naturally have small differences between the two sides, a little unevenness may remain; in some cases a corrective procedure or a top-up session may be needed later, and your doctor will talk to you honestly about that possibility.
The next step
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.