Temple Hollowing Treatment Melbourne
Temple Volume & Outer Brow SupportThe temple is the soft area at the side of the forehead, between the outer brow and the hairline. When the fat there thins, it sinks inward, the bone around it starts to show, and the upper face can look narrow above the cheekbones. Temple hollowing treatment uses volume-based treatments and biostimulators to rebuild that area and the support it gives the tail of the brow.
Your AHPRA-registered nurse assesses your temples front-on and in profile, then feels along each temple while you clench your teeth, since the chewing muscle sits directly beneath. Treatment is available at our Camberwell, Moonee Ponds and Brighton clinics.
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Understanding Temple Hollowing
The temple sits in a shallow dip in the skull, framed by the ridge along the side of the forehead, the bone at the outer edge of the eye socket and the cheekbone below. The chewing muscle fills most of that dip, and layers of fat over and around it give the temple its soft outward curve.
When that fat thins, the curve flattens or sinks inward, usually because of one or more of these:
VOLUME CHANGES
facial fat compartments and supportive structures reduce over time
GENETICS
some people naturally have less temple volume
WEIGHT CHANGES
volume shifts can show early in the temples
FACIAL BALANCE
temples can look hollow when nearby areas have changed too
How deep the hollow sits, and whether the bone has started to show at its edges, decides how much support the temple needs and where it’s used.
Temple Hollowing Treatment by Cause
When hollowing and a flattened outer brow appear together, the temple is usually rebuilt first, since the tail of the brow often sits higher once the temple beneath it has support.
Common planning options we may discuss during a temple hollowing consultation include:
Two fat pads give the temple its curve. One sits within the tissue covering the chewing muscle, and a deeper one lies beneath that muscle, continuing up from the cheek. Both thin with age, after weight loss and in people with very low body fat, which is why runners and cyclists often notice hollow temples early. As the fat thins, the temple dips inward and catches shadow under overhead light, often years before other parts of the face change.
Volume-based treatments are placed along the bone to help rebuild the temple’s curve, or in a shallower layer beneath the skin where a smoother surface is needed. Biostimulators may rebuild support gradually over a course of sessions, and they often suit hollowing that is wide and shallow.
How deep the dip sits at rest, front-on and in profile How the hollow catches shadow under overhead light Any recent weight loss or change in training Skin thickness and how visible the veins are Whether both temples have hollowed evenly - “Will my temples look puffy?” Support is built in stages and checked front-on, aiming to restore a gentle curve without pushing the temple outward.
- “I train a lot and my face looks gaunt. Can this help?” Low body fat often empties the temples, and it’s assessed the same way as age-related hollowing.
- “Will my veins show more?” Visible veins are mapped first, so placement can avoid making them more prominent.
- “Volume-based treatment or a biostimulator?” It depends on how deep and how wide the hollow is, and how gradual you’d like the change to be.
- A shallower dip at the side of the forehead
- Less shadow at the temple under overhead light
- A smoother line from forehead to hairline front-on
- A face that may look less gaunt at the sides
- Planning waits until your weight is stable if you’re still losing
- The temporal artery is located and mapped before anything is placed
- Thin skin over the temple is assessed before planning.
- Previous temple treatment is reviewed before more is added
- Temples that have sunk with age or weight loss
- Hollowing from very low body fat or endurance training
- A wide, shallow dip at the side of the forehead
Three edges of bone frame the temple: the ridge along the side of the forehead where the chewing muscle attaches, the bone at the outer corner of the eye socket, and the cheekbone below. While the temple is full, these edges blend into one smooth curve. As it hollows, each edge starts to stand out, so the side of the face looks bony and the upper face narrows above the cheekbones into an hourglass shape front-on.
Volume-based treatment is placed along the bone, to treat the step between each edge and the hollow so the frame blends back into the temple. Biostimulators may be added around it to thicken the surrounding tissue gradually. Where the cheekbones themselves have flattened, they’re planned through cheek volume treatment.
How clearly the ridge along the side of the forehead shows The edge of bone at the outer corner of each eye Width at the temples compared with the cheekbones front-on The chewing muscle, felt while you clench your teeth How the temple, outer eye and cheekbone line up in profile - “Will it make my head look wider?” Volume is used on the hollow up to the line of the bone around it, aiming to blend the edges back in without pushing the temple outward.
- “Why does my face look bony at the sides?” As the temple empties, the bone around it is left without cover, so its edges catch the light.
- “Does clenching or grinding affect my temples?” The chewing muscle sits under the temple, so how strongly you clench changes how full or hollow it looks.
- “Why is my face an hourglass shape front-on?” A hollow temple between a wider forehead and cheekbones pinches the outline of the upper face.
- Bone edges that may blend back into the temple
- A smoother line from forehead to cheekbone front-on
- An upper face that may look less pinched above the cheekbones
- Less of a bony look at the side of the face in photos
- Muscle activity treatment for jaw clenching is reviewed, as it can thin the temple
- Hairline position is checked, since part of the hollow may sit behind it
- Cheekbone width is measured so temple and cheek stay in proportion
- A very deep hollow may be built up across more than one visit
- Visible bone edges around a hollow temple
- An upper face that narrows above the cheekbones
- A bony or gaunt look at the side of the face
The tail of the brow rests on the bone at the outer corner of the eye, with the temple directly behind it. A full temple supports the soft tissue of the outer brow from behind, holding the tail up and out. As the temple hollows, the brow tail loses that support, flattens and sits slightly lower, and the outer corner of the upper eyelid can look heavier or hooded.
Volume-based treatment is used at the temple and along the bone behind the brow tail, aiming to support the outer brow from behind. Rebuilding that support may lift the tail slightly and soften the step between temple and brow. Biostimulators may add gradual support to the surrounding tissue over a course of sessions.
How high the tail of each brow sits compared with the inner brow Heaviness at the outer corner of each upper eyelid The step between temple and brow tail in profile How your brows move as you raise and lower them Whether one brow tail sits lower than the other - “Will it lift my brows?” Support behind the brow tail may lift it slightly. Your nurse explains how much change is realistic for your face before you decide.
- “Will my expressions change?” Volume is used at the temple and behind the brow, away from the muscles that move it, so your brows can move as they do now.
- “Is this the same as a brow lift?” A surgical brow lift repositions the brow and can remove skin. This treatment supports the outer brow from behind and is temporary.
- “Why does my eyelid look heavy at the outer corner?” When the brow tail drops, the skin of the upper eyelid gathers beneath it.
- A brow tail that may sit with more support
- A softer step between temple and brow in profile
- An outer upper eyelid that may look less heavy
- A smoother line from temple to outer brow
- Previous muscle treatment around the brows is reviewed with its timing
- Eyelid or brow surgery is reviewed before planning
- Heavy excess eyelid skin may need a surgical opinion
- Each brow tail is measured separately, since they rarely sit evenly
- A brow tail that has flattened or dropped
- Hooding at the outer corner of the upper eyelid
- A visible step between a hollow temple and the brow
Your Temples, Checked Against Your Cheeks and Brows
Your first visit checks both temples front-on, in profile and as you clench, then compares them with your cheekbones and brows. Earlier cheek treatment is checked first, since cheeks that have been widened or have spread outward can make the temples look hollow by contrast, and volume-based treatments at the temple would widen the face further. There’s no obligation to go ahead.
From Temple Assessment to Review
Temple hollowing can come from age, weight loss, heavy training or earlier treatment elsewhere on the face, and each one changes the plan. The consultation determines which applies to you before deciding how much support the temple needs and which option suits it.
What we cover in your consultation
MEDICAL AND TREATMENT HISTORY
medications, conditions and past face treatment
WEIGHT AND TRAINING
recent weight loss and how much you train
HOLLOW AND BONE EDGES
how deep the hollow sits and the bone around it
CHEWING MUSCLE
muscle bulk felt while you clench your teeth
BROWS AND CHEEKS
brow tail height and earlier cheek treatment
A STAGED PLAN AND QUOTE
volume, biostimulator or both, and how many visits
Volume-based treatment is often a single appointment, while biostimulators run as a course of sessions spaced several weeks apart.
Before Your Appointment
WHAT TO BRING & KNOWThe temple runs up to the hairline, so your hair needs to be clear of the area, and anything that already involves the temple, like headaches or jaw clenching, changes how the plan is set.
Bring a hair tie or clip so the temples and hairline are clear
Skip hair spray, oils and styling products along the hairline on the day
Mention regular headaches or jaw clenching, as both involve the temple
Allow around 30 minutes for the consultation
During Treatment
WHAT TO EXPECTYour nurse marks the hollow and the bone edges around it with your face relaxed, checks again as you clench, then works in small steps, comparing both temples front-on after each one. Most appointments take 30 to 45 minutes.
Hair clipped back and the temples cleansed
The hollow and bone edges marked before anything is placed
Both temples compared front-on as treatment builds
The option to pause at any point
Aftercare & Follow-Up
WHAT HAPPENS NEXTMild swelling at the temple and tenderness when you chew usually settle within a few days, and any bruising near the hairline is often hidden by your hair. Biostimulators tend to build support gradually across the course. Your review compares your temples front-on against the photos from your first visit, and our team is reachable 24/7 if anything feels unexpected.
Avoid tight hats, headbands and helmets for a few days
Swap heavy glasses that rest on the temples for lighter frames
Avoid pressing or massaging the temples unless your nurse advises it
Hold off strenuous exercise, saunas and alcohol for 24 hours
Treatment Is a Process, Not a Single Decision
Temple hollowing often shows earlier than other signs of facial ageing, sometimes in the 30s, and especially in people who are lean or train hard. Because the temple sits at the side of the face, many people only notice it in photos taken from an angle or under overhead light.
Hormonal change plays a part too. A CT study measuring the temple directly found women after menopause had noticeably less soft tissue volume in the temple than women before menopause, a median of around 40 mL compared with 47 mL. That loss tends to continue gradually, so a temple that’s been rebuilt can hollow again over the following years.
Volume-based treatments and biostimulators also fade on different timelines, and weight change or a change in training can change the temple between visits. Your reviews compare your temples against your first-visit photos, so any maintenance is matched to how much has changed.
Individual results may vary. This is a general representation and does not guarantee specific outcomes.
CLIENT REVIEWS
What our clients say
Explore More Treatment Options
The temples set the width of the upper face, and the face’s outline runs from there down through the jaw to the chin. Temple hollowing often appears alongside hollowing under the eyes, and a narrow temple can make a broad jaw or a strong chin look more dominant.
Wrinkle Treatments
expression lines at the outer eye, beside the temple
Facial Balancing
proportion across the temples, cheeks, jaw and chin
Thread Lifts
PDO threads anchored near the temple to lift the brow
Rejuran
polynucleotide skin booster for thin skin at the temple
Fotona 5D
laser treatment for firmness and texture of facial skin
3 accessible clinic locations across Melbourne
All locations
Camberwell
1172 Toorak Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationMoonee Ponds
30-32 Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationHave Questions? Your Consultation Is a Good Place to Start.
Frequently Asked Questions
SAFETY & SUITABILITY
Who isn’t suitable for temple treatment? 
Is the temple a higher-risk area to treat?
Can I have temple treatment after a facelift or brow lift?
RESULTS & TIMELINE
Why does my temple feel tender when I chew afterwards?
Is one session enough for hollow temples?
How long does temple treatment last?
AFTERCARE & LOGISTICS
Can I sleep on my side after temple treatment?
When can I colour my hair or wear it tied back?
Is a price listed for temple hollowing treatment?
WHERE TO START
Can previous cheek treatment make my temples look hollow?
How can I tell if my temples are hollow?
MYTHS, WORRIES & 'WHAT IF'
Will my temples feel lumpy after treatment?
Can skin treatments fix hollow temples on their own?
Can treatment for jaw clenching make my temples hollow?
COMPARISON
Temple treatment vs fat transfer: what’s the difference?
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