Achieving a Natural-Looking Eye Lift with Temple Fillers

David Fuller

Last Updated On: March 27, 2024

What Causes Volume Loss in the Temples?

Volume loss in the temples can be attributed to various factors. As we age, collagen and elastin production decreases, leading to a gradual loss of skin elasticity and firmness. Additionally, the underlying fat pads in the temples may diminish, resulting in a hollow and sunken appearance. Other factors such as genetics, weight loss, and lifestyle habits can also contribute to temple volume loss.

As a crucial part of the facial structure, the temples play a significant role in framing the eyes. When volume is lost in this area, it can impact the overall balance and harmony of the face, making the eyes appear droopy or tired.

Can You Use Filler in the Temples To Lift the Eyes?

Modern aesthetic medicine offers non-invasive solutions for addressing temple volume loss and restoring a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. We are talking about dermal fillers, of course. Although there are no FDA-approved fillers designed explicitly for the temples, they have been successfully used off-label to enhance this area and other facial regions.

There are three types of dermal fillers: hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). They are all biocompatible with the surrounding tissue, reducing the chances of adverse reactions. HA and CaHA are fully bio-degradable, leaving microspheres that can only be removed surgically.

HA fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, are the most popular dermal fillers in use. Thanks to their proven and natural-looking results, they are also a good choice of fillers for temples because they provide effective volume restoration, contouring, and a natural-looking lift in the temple area, helping to enhance the overall appearance around the eyes. Not only that, but in the rare event that something goes awry, these fillers can be dissolved using the hyaluronidase enzyme, allowing the human body to absorb them fully.

Since they are all biodegradable, it should come as no surprise that the effects of these fillers are temporary, including the PLLA filler, with results lasting anywhere from six months to several years.

How Do Temple Fillers Work?

The HA fillers work by replenishing the body’s depleted supply of hyaluronic acid, which is naturally present in our skin. Once injected, our cells immediately start using a new supply of HA to restore volume and improve the overall appearance of the temple area. By restoring lost volume and contouring the temples, fillers help address issues such as hollowing and sagging, which can contribute to an aged or tired appearance around the eyes.

In addition to addressing hollowing and sagging, temple filler injections also smooth out wrinkles and other fine lines. The effects of fillers are immediately noticeable after the procedure, with the full effect occurring in two to three weeks. 

By restoring volume and smoothing out wrinkles in the temple area, these injections can create a more harmonious and balanced facial profile and provide a modest amount of facial lift. It’s not uncommon for dermal fillers to be combined with other procedures if they alone aren’t enough to fulfill the patient’s goals. 

How Is a Temple Filler Injected?

The filler is typically injected using a fine-gauge needle or a cannula. A cannula, or blunt needle, is becoming a more popular choice these days since it reduces the risk of potential side effects. The procedure begins with applying a local anesthetic or a topical numbing cream to ensure patient comfort. 

Depending on the particular filler used and the desired result, the depth and technique of the injection may change. The process should be performed with utmost precision to achieve optimal results and minimize discomfort or bruising. 

Benefits of Temple Filler Injection

Fillers have a couple of additional benefits besides lifting the eyes and restoring volume in the area. 

Quick: The entire procedure is quick and usually completed within 10 minutes, and patients can resume their daily activities shortly after.

Almost no recovery time: The patient can immediately resume their daily activities with minimal aftercare required, unlike surgery, which typically involves a more extended recovery period and significant rest.

Fills in hollow temples: By replenishing lost volume in the temples, these injections restore facial symmetry and create a harmonious balance in the facial features. In the process, they effectively eliminate the sunken or tired look.

Increases skin firmness: When fillers for temples are injected, they stimulate collagen production, a protein responsible for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. This collagen boost helps improve the skin’s overall firmness, reducing sagging and promoting a more youthful appearance.

Reduces wrinkles: In addition to filling out the temples, lifting the eyes, and providing a modest facelift, dermal fillers are excellent at concealing wrinkles and other fine lines such as crow’s feet. 

Side Effects

While fillers can provide effective and desirable results, it’s essential to be aware of the potential side effects and complications that may arise. We divide them into two main categories: common and rare. 

Common side effects are:

• pain;
• swelling;
• bruising;
• redness;
• itching;
• rash;
• headache.

Rare side effects of temple fillers are: 

• infection;
• blood vessel injury;
• filler migration;
• creation of granulomas;
• lumps on the injection site;
• vision loss;
• tissue necrosis.

Most rare side effects happen due to improper injection technique, inadequate product knowledge, or individual variations in patient response. 

Aftercare 

Proper aftercare plays a vital role in treatment outcomes, minimizing potential side effects and ensuring patient satisfaction. Below are essential aftercare guidelines to share with your patients following filler injections into the temple area:

Cold compresses: Instruct patients to apply cold compresses or ice packs to the treated temples intermittently during the first 24-48 hours. This can help reduce swelling and minimize bruising. The ice shouldn’t come into direct contact with the skin.  

Exercise and other strenuous activities: Advise patients to avoid rigorous exercise, heavy lifting, or activities that may increase blood flow to the treated area for at least 24-48 hours. This precaution helps minimize the risk of bleeding, swelling, or discomfort.

Sun and heat protection: Instruct patients to avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning beds, saunas, or hot baths for at least 24-48 hours after the procedure. 

Pressure: Patients should avoid putting pressure on the treated area and sleep on their backs for 48 hours following the procedure.

Active cosmetics: Patients should refrain from using active cosmeceutical products containing vitamin C, retinol, or AHAs, as well as oil-based makeup, for at least 24 hours following temple filler injections.

Other facial procedures: Advise patients to avoid facials, chemical peels, waxing, skin needling, laser treatments, and IPL for a period of two weeks following temple filler injections. These procedures can potentially irritate or disrupt the treated area, leading to complications or suboptimal results. 

Alcohol and smoking: Advise patients to abstain from alcohol and smoking for at least 48 hours after injections, but for best results, abstain for a full week. Alcohol can contribute to dehydration and increase the risk of bruising and swelling, while smoking can impair the healing process and affect the longevity of the results.

Conclusion

The temple area doesn’t get nearly as much attention as the rest of the face. People mostly focus on their lips, nose, and forehead without realizing how much a temple area lift, even a modest one, can help them achieve their goals. And this is where you come into play as a medical professional. It’s your job to educate the patients and explain how filler in the temples can lift the eyes, eliminate the tired and sunken look by restoring volume, and hide wrinkles. And we are here to help you find the proper tools to achieve the desired results. 

By staying informed about the latest techniques and advancements in temple filler injections, you can offer your patients personalized treatment plans and guide them toward a more refreshed and youthful appearance. Remember, the temple area is a critical component of facial harmony, and with your expertise, you can help patients unlock their full aesthetic potential. Together, we can enhance their confidence and satisfaction with natural-looking and transformative outcomes.

FAQ

Do temple fillers lift the face?

While temple fillers can provide a subtle lift to the face, it is important to note that the results cannot be compared to those achieved through surgical facelift procedures.

Is there a filler to lift the eyes?

There is currently no FDA-approved filler specifically designed to lift the eyes. However, many medical professionals utilize FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm off-label to achieve the desired lifting effect.

Will temple filler lift my cheeks?

Temple fillers are primarily designed to address volume loss and lift the temples, which may indirectly enhance the appearance of the cheeks. However, the direct lifting effect on the cheeks is limited, and it is generally more effective to use fillers specifically designed for cheek augmentation for the desired results.

References:

1. Hyaluronic acid gel fillers in the management of facial aging; Fredric S Brandt and Alex Cazzaniga; Mar 2008
2. Temple augmentation by injecting a hyaluronic acid filler between the superficial and deep temporal fasciae; Won Lee, Jin-Woo Park, and Eun-Jung Yang; May 2022
3. An anatomy study of temporal layers: the safe space for hyaluronic acid injection; Ping Jiang, Qiqing Chen, and Weifeng Huangl Jul 2016
4. Ocular complications of soft tissue filler injections: A review of literature; Won Lee, Ik-Soo Koh, Wook Oh, and Eun-Jung Yang; Apr 2020
5. Migration of Hyaluronic Acid-Based Soft Tissue Filler From the Temples to the Cheeks-An Anatomic Explanation; Rawaa Almukhtar, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Sebastian Cotofana, and Sabrina Fabi; Nov 2021
6. Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Review of the World Literature; Katie Beleznay, Jean D A Carruthers, Shannon Humphrey, and Derek Jones; Oct 2015
7. Visual loss following cosmetic facial filler injection; Samir S Shoughy; Sep 2019