Temples: anatomy, filler and risks of the temporal region
The temples sit on the side of the upper third, between the lateral tip of the eyebrow and the hairline. When they lose volume, they create a concavity that "narrows" the upper part of the face, sharpens the outline of the orbit and gives an air of tiredness or thinness. Restoring that volume can harmonize the transition between forehead, eyes and cheekbone.
What are the anatomical boundaries of the temple?
The temporal region corresponds to the temporal fossa. The boundaries used in practice are:
- Superior and posterior: the superior temporal line, which marks the insertion border of the temporalis muscle.
- Anterior: the lateral border of the orbit (lateral orbital rim).
- Inferior: the zygomatic arch.
The layers, from outside to inside, include skin, subcutaneous tissue, temporoparietal fascia, deep temporal fascia (with superficial and deep layers in the lower part), fat pads and the temporalis muscle over the bone.
Vessels and nerves to watch
The temple is a high vascular risk zone. In the anatomical review, consider:
- Superficial temporal artery and its frontal branch, which run in the superficial layer and may be palpable.
- Middle temporal vein, large in caliber, which crosses the region and drains into the deep venous system.
- Deep temporal arteries, next to the bone and the temporalis muscle.
- Temporal (frontal) branch of the facial nerve, which crosses the zygomatic arch toward the forehead and innervates the frontalis muscle.
A vascular occlusion in the region can have serious consequences, and injury to the temporal branch of the facial nerve can affect brow elevation.
What do patients usually ask for?
The temples are rarely the main concern. The patient usually describes the effect, not the region:
- "My face looks skull-like since I lost weight."
- "The side of my forehead is sunken."
- "My eye seems more sunken in."
- "I want a softer face, less angular."
It is up to the professional to recognize that part of that impression comes from the temporal concavity. Assess the patient from the front and in three-quarter view, with light that does not hide the concavity.
What procedures can be done in the temples?
The most common is temple filler with hyaluronic acid, aimed at volumization. Products with a G' (g-prime) suited to the chosen depth help provide support without becoming palpable.
Some professionals use calcium hydroxylapatite or other collagen biostimulators in the region, with a more gradual response. The choice of material, technique and use of cannula or needle is the decision of the qualified professional, according to the rules of their professional council in Brazil.
Treatment of the temples is usually planned together with the malar region and the zygomatic area, because the lateral transition of the face is continuous.
What are the usual volumes in the temples?
The values below are usual ranges in ml of hyaluronic acid, at the discretion of the qualified professional, after assessment.
| Degree of concavity | Usual range per side | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 0.5 to 1 ml | Young patient or subtle concavity |
| Moderate | 1 to 1.5 ml | Most common case |
| Pronounced | 1.5 to 2 ml or more, in sessions | Consider splitting the treatment |
| Durability | Generally 12 to 18 months | Varies with product and patient |
Pronounced concavities often call for more than one session. Splitting helps assess the response and reduces the volume per intervention.
Precautions, contraindications and complications
General contraindications include active infection or skin lesion at the site, pregnancy and breastfeeding, uncontrolled autoimmune diseases, allergy to components of the product and unrealistic expectations. Record anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications, which increase the risk of bruising.
Reported complications:
- Swelling, bruising and pain when chewing in the first days, because of the proximity to the temporalis muscle.
- Irregularity or palpable product.
- Asymmetry between the sides.
- Vascular occlusion, with risk of skin necrosis and, in rare cases, a visual complication.
Have hyaluronidase available, know the complication protocol and instruct the patient about warning signs. See the safety and complications overview.
How to assess the temples in the consultation
The temporal concavity is easy to overlook, because hair, frontal light and makeup tend to hide it. Some practical tips:
- Side or overhead light: shows the shadow of the concavity more clearly than frontal light.
- Three-quarter view: helps see the transition between temple, eyebrow and cheekbone.
- Temporalis contraction: ask the patient to clench their teeth and observe the muscle volume.
- Weight history: recent or significant weight loss often explains the picture.
- Face shape: in faces that are very narrow in the upper third, restoration tends to have more impact.
Recording the region in a standardized photo before treatment helps show the change at follow-up. See the guidelines on standardized clinical photography.
How do the temples appear in Harmy?
In Harmy, the region is the Temple point of the marking. After the frontal photo, the app detects the face on the device, shows the points with labels, and you tap Temple to include it in the plan.
In the Plan, you set the volume in ml, in 0.5 ml steps, from 0.5 to 5 ml. Because the temple is bilateral, the value is the total, split between the two sides. In the simulation used on this site, for example, it was 2 ml in total. The more ml, the more noticeable the change, and the projection changes only the marked area.
The step by step is in marking areas and volumes.
How to talk to the patient about the temples
Since patients almost never ask for the temples, showing the region can be what makes the plan make sense to them. An illustrative simulation on their own photo helps the patient see the effect on the harmony of the whole face, and not just "one more item on the quote".
Present the projection as support for the explanation, never as a promise. To fit the region into the full plan, see how to increase plan acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the temples become hollow?
With aging there is loss of fat and bone volume in the region, and the temporalis muscle can become more apparent. Significant weight loss and intense exercise also make the temples more concave.
How much filler is used in the temples?
The ranges described are generally between 0.5 and 2 ml per side, at the discretion of the qualified professional after assessment. Very concave temples may need more than one session.
Is temple filler safe?
It is an established procedure, but the region has important vessels and is considered high vascular risk. It requires mastery of the anatomy and hyaluronidase available in the office.
How long does filler in the temples last?
Generally 12 to 18 months with hyaluronic acid, varying with the product, the volume and the patient's metabolism.
Harmy images are illustrative simulations generated by AI from the patient's photo to support the conversation between practitioner and patient. They are not a promise of results. Indication, technique, product and volume are solely the decision of the licensed practitioner. This content is for information only and does not replace a clinical assessment.