Dermal Fillers
22 June 2022
When it comes to aging in the upper face; wrinkles would be the first sign that comes to our minds. Definitely, forehead lines, crows feet and glabella wrinkles are some of the earliest signs of aging. However, one often overlooked part of our face that has a profound effect on our facial profile is our temples.
Our temples are located at the outer corners in the top half of our face. The natural fullness of temples are gradually lost with age. Hence, the natural convex shape of our upper face will take on a more concave profile. This in turn may make a person more haggard or skeletal.
The good news is that temporal hollowing or flat temples can be treated non-surgically and safely with temple fillers. This review will share answers to FAQs before and after temple filler injections in Singapore.
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Temple fillers are dermal fillers injected into the temple region of the face to sculpt the face. Our temples lie at our sides of the upper parts of our face, above our eyes. Also known as the temporal region, our temples form the shape of the upper part of our faces. In younger individuals, the temples naturally have a convex shape.
The temporal region comprises mostly bone and a small amount of fat tissue and muscles. With aging in the face, muscles and fat naturally lose their bulk. The bones in our faces also lose their definition due to natural aging processes. These aging changes lead to gradual hollow and concave shapes of the temples. Hollow and sunken looking temples are one of the signs of aging and can make one look haggard and tired.
Besides a gaunt, tired and wasted look, sunken looking temples also contribute to sagging in the upper face. The position of our eyebrows are partially supported and lifted by the tissues in our temples. When the temples lose their bulk, the eyebrows sag downwards to make a person look more tired and older. Restoring the fullness of the temple can help to lift the eyebrows for a younger and more refreshed look.
One classic description of hollow and sunken temples is a “peanut face”- narrow and depressed temporal region; wider cheekbones and narrow cheeks. Patients usually look gaunt and older.
The most common non-surgical treatment for hollow and concave temples is temple fillers. Temple fillers refer to dermal fillers injected into the temporal region to replace lost volume and improve the contour of the temples.
Dermal fillers are soft gels used to sculpt the face. The most commonly used type of dermal fillers in Singapore are hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in our skin and organs. Hyaluronic acid fillers plump up the temples immediately to reduce the gaunt appearance and improve the 3D profile of the face.
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Temple fillers are performed for mainly 2 reasons:
1) Restore volume in hollow temples to less gaunt and sunken.
2) Lift the face- eyebrows sag downwards due to loss of structural support from the temples in sunken and hollow temples. Restoring the temples lifts and restores the position of the eyebrows.
3) Face sculpting- to create convex temples for a heart or oval face. This face shape is desired among some Asian ethnicities and gives a smooth visual transition from the hairlines to the eyes.
How are temple fillers injected? Prior to injecting dermal fillers into the temple, I usually numb my patients’ faces and mark out safety boundaries. Temple fillers can be injected using a needle or cannula. Depending on the individual’s face shape, I may inject over different quadrants in the temporal region for a smoother temple shape, taking great care to avoid important blood vessels.
Temple fillers are not painful at all- I know because I’ve had it done before. And that’s why I make sure my patients’ faces are adequately numbed before injecting dermal fillers into the temples. There may be a slight discomfort and strange sensation. The experience of getting temple fillers was very tolerable for me.
Another way I help to reduce any pain or discomfort from dermal filler injections is to use fillers that contain lidocaine. Lidocaine is a numbing medication that can reduce pain during the injection.
With temple filler injections, the results and improvements in the contours of the face are immediate. You won’t have to wear your fringe down to hide sunken looking temples anymore if you’ve always been self conscious about them.
There may be some soreness or a pressure over the temporal region immediately after temple fillers have been injected. However, this discomfort is temporary and usually disappears in 24 hours.
I generally advise patients to avoid taking nutritional supplements that contain fish oil, vitamin E and ginkgo after dermal filler injections. These ingredients may increase your risk of bruising from the injections. Exercising immediately after is also not advised as this may cause additional discomfort and bruising
Temple filler injections are generally safe, with minor risks such as temporary discomfort and bruising.
One of the risks of dermal filler injections is blood vessel occlusion or blockage by the dermal filler itself. Specific to the temporal area, the blood vessels in the region which communicate with blood vessels of the eye and lungs. Some of the reported risks of temple filler injections are blindness and pulmonary embolism.
Having an experienced aesthetic doctor is essential to avoid complications or risks from dermal filler injections- so choose your doctor wisely. All medical treatments harbour their own risks, so knowing safety and danger zones for injections is important.If you are a patient in my clinic, you would know that I map out vessels and danger zones before starting injections. I also guide patients about a look that is harmonious with their ethnicity and personality and I am also very clear about realistic expectations from treatments. Overfilling a patient’s face isn’t just unsightly, it also has its own risks.
Secondly, there are also techniques that can be done during injections to mitigate the risks of entering blood vessels. If the needle or cannula has entered a blood vessel, the injections must be stopped immediately.
When it comes to injecting dermal fillers in areas of the face that contain blood vessels, it is a must to be prepared for any complication. As a doctor, I ensure that the antidote to reverse the dermal filler injection is always present in my clinic. This allows the blood vessel to be unblocked immediately.
Lastly, my suggestion to most patients is to consider combination treatments. Not everyone needs it, but there are instances when combining treatments would allow a more harmonious facial profile while keeping the amount of dermal fillers limited.
Hollow or sunken looking temples are one of the signs of aging. Loss of soft tissue and bone in the temporal region of the face lead to a gradual concavity of the upper face, contributing to a haggard and gaunt look. Hollow temples also lead to eyebrows sagging downwards to make a person look older and more tired.
The most common non-surgical treatment for hollow temples in Singapore is with temple filers. Dermal fillers injected into the temporal region reverse the hollowness and concavity for a more youthful and healthy look. Another reason for temple fillers is the pursuit of a heart shaped or oval face, which is preferred in some ethnicities.
Temple fillers can give immediate results and are generally safe, if you choose an experienced doctor who takes the adequate precautions. You can also consider combining other anti-aging and rejuvenation treatments to reduce the amount and risk of temple filler injections.
If you found this review on temple fillers useful, you might also enjoy these posts on dermal fillers:
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How to Get Rid of Eye Bags Without Surgery: Under Eye/ Tear Trough Fillers
5 Things You Need to Know About Nose Fillers
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