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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 aesthetic procedure using hyaluronic acid dermal filler to restore lost volume to the temporal region — the area between the outer brow and the hairline. As the face ages, the temporal bone loses density, the temporal fat pads shrink, and the temporalis muscle reduces in bulk, a visible hollow at the side of the face. Restoring this volume lifts the tail of the brow, reduces upper eyelid heaviness, and improves overall facial contour without surgery or significant downtime.

There is a sign of ageing that most people cannot quite put their finger on. Patients sit across from me and say they look exhausted even when they are not, or that something 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 something far less obvious: their temples.

Temple hollowing is, in my view, one of the most underappreciated contributors to facial ageing. And it is one of the most rewarding 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 individual features, but as a three-dimensional structure supported by bone, fat, muscle, and skin, all working in .

From our mid-thirties onwards, we lose bone density in the skull, including the temporal bone. The fat pads in the region, and there are several distinct compartments of them, begin to shrink and descend. The temporalis muscle, which runs through this area, also loses volume over time. The result is a gradual caving inward of the area that sits between the outer edge of the eyebrow and the hairline.

What this does to the face is significant. 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, particularly in profile, that reads unmistakably as age and fatigue.

It is worth noting that temple volume loss does not discriminate. I see it in patients 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 compositions generally. In those cases, the hollowing can appear even before other signs of facial ageing become prominent.

Why Temple Hollowing Is So Often Overlooked

Most people seeking cosmetic treatments focus on the middle and lower face: the nasolabial folds, the lips, the . And I understand why; these are the features that tend to attract the most attention and cause the most distress. But treating the lower face in isolation, without addressing volume loss higher up, can results 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 alongside other areas, patients consistently notice that the whole face appears lifted, not just the temples themselves. The brow sits higher. The upper eyelid appears more open. Cheekbones look more defined. It is one of those treatments where the impact is quietly but profoundly transformative, and where are often surprised by how much difference a single, well-placed intervention can make.

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

How Temple Filler Treatment Works

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

The key to good temple treatment is precision and restraint. This is not an area to over-fill. The goal is to restore 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 cannulas depending on the specific area being addressed and the individual patient’s anatomy. Every patient is unique, and the approach is always tailored to every individual.

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

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

Who Is a Good Candidate for Temple Filler?

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

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

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 recommend sleeping on the back rather than the side to avoid pressure on the temples during the initial settling period, and leaving the area alone — no pressing, massaging, or applying makeup over the sites.

Any swelling or bruising, where it occurs, typically resolves within seven to ten days. I review all patients at the two-week mark, at which point the filler has integrated fully, and the results can be properly 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 rejuvenation plan, is the cascade of improvements it produces elsewhere. Restoring 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 hooding. It improves the overall of the face when viewed from the side, restoring the smooth, gently curved silhouette that characterises a youthful profile.

For patients who are considering blepharoplasty, surgical eyelid correction, for what appears to be excess upper eyelid skin, I always recommend assessing the temples first. In a meaningful number of cases, restoring temporal volume reduces or eliminates 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 options 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 heavier 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 properly assessed.

The best outcomes always come from a thorough, unhurried consultation in which the face is evaluated as a whole, with treatment planned accordingly. At Health and Aesthetics, that is precisely the approach 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 exercise intensely may find results settle sooner. Subsequent treatments often last longer.

Yes. Restoring volume to the temporal 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 meaningfully reduce the appearance of hooding.

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

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

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

Dr. Rekha Tailor, founder and Medical Director of Health & Aesthetics, is an esteemed Medical Aesthetic Practitioner and General Practitioner, educated at Manchester Medical School. With a career spanning NHS hospitals and general practice, she shifted to full-time aesthetic medicine in 2005. Known for her natural 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, highlighting her clinic as a leader in aesthetic treatments.

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