Skin & Aesthetics · Fillers
Temple Filler in Seoul: Restoring Hollow Temples Naturally
Temple filler is an injection of hyaluronic acid filler into the hollow at the side of the forehead, which softens a sunken, tired or angular look and can make the upper face appear smoother and more balanced; results typically last about 12–18 months. At Hommage Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Kim Hyunbin assesses your temple depth and face shape before choosing the injection depth and technique.
Quick answer
Temple filler is a hyaluronic acid filler injection into the hollow beside the forehead that smooths the curve from forehead to cheekbone and softens a tired or angular upper face. At Hommage Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Kim Hyunbin chooses between a deep injection on the bone and a cannula technique after examining your temples. Injecting takes about 15–20 minutes, the final shape shows at about 2 weeks, and results typically last 12–18 months.
Key takeaways
- Temple hollows come from thinning fat and bone, slimness or intense exercise, and are common from the 30s.
- Two main techniques: deep on the bone with a needle, or superficial with a blunt cannula.
- Tenderness when chewing for a few days is normal, because the temporal muscle helps you chew.
- The temporal artery runs through this area, so careful technique and knowing the warning signs matter.
- HA temple filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
Infographic
Temple filler in numbers
Injecting time
After 20–30 minutes of numbing cream.
Main techniques
Deep on the bone, or a cannula in the fatty layer.
Chewing tenderness
Mild ache when chewing or yawning settles on its own.
No tight hats
Avoid pressure, massage and tight headbands.
Final shape
Review and fine balancing between sides.
Typical duration
Sometimes longer when placed deep on the bone.
Temple filler at a glance
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Treatment time | About 15–20 minutes of injecting, after numbing cream |
| Comfort | Numbing cream and lidocaine in the filler; a feeling of pressure is common |
| Sessions | Usually one; a top-up after 2–4 weeks if both sides need fine balancing |
| Downtime | Mild swelling or tenderness when chewing for a few days; bruising possible |
| Results visible | Immediately, with the final shape at about 2 weeks |
| How long results last | Typically 12–18 months, depending on the product and depth |
| Performed by | A clinic physician from the skin & aesthetics team, such as Dr. Kim Hyunbin |
Temple filler may suit you if you have
- A visible dip at the temples that makes the forehead look narrow
- Hollowing after weight loss, intense exercise or with age
- A face that looks angular or tired from the side
- Tail of the brow that looks low because the temple has lost support
Wait or choose another option if you
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an infection or inflamed skin at the temples
- Have a history of severe allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine
- Have frequent temporal headaches or jaw joint pain (discuss with your doctor first)
What is temple filler?
Temple filler restores volume to the temple, the soft area between the outer eyebrow and the hairline. Temples hollow with age as fat and bone thin out, and they can also look sunken in people who are naturally slim or very active.
A hollow temple creates a shadow and a visible step between the forehead and cheekbone, which can make the upper face look narrow, tired or older than you feel. A hyaluronic acid dermal filler fills this dip so the outline from forehead to cheek becomes a smooth curve. In East Asian aesthetics a full, rounded temple is often considered part of a soft, youthful face shape, which is why temple filler is common in Korea.
Who is a good candidate for temple filler?
You are likely to be a good candidate if your temples dip inward when you look in the mirror from the front, and the hollow is caused by lost volume rather than loose skin. Temple hollowing is common in:
- People in their 30s and older, as fat pads and bone gradually thin.
- Those who are naturally slim, have lost weight or train intensively.
- People with a naturally narrow upper face compared with the cheekbones and jaw.
Temple filler is less helpful if your main concern is sagging skin around the eyes and cheeks, which responds better to lifting treatments. If your temples have hollowed quickly along with unexplained weight loss, see a doctor about your general health first.
How is temple filler done?
Temple filler is injected using one of two main techniques, chosen for your anatomy:
- Deep injection on the bone: a small amount of firmer filler is placed under the temporal muscle, directly on the bone, with a needle. This gives structural support with a low chance of visible lumps.
- Superficial cannula technique: a blunt cannula spreads a softer filler in the fatty layer just under the skin for a smooth, even result over a wider area.
Numbing cream is applied first and most fillers contain lidocaine. Many people feel pressure or a dull ache as the filler goes in rather than sharp pain. Injection takes about 15–20 minutes, and the doctor checks both sides from the front and side before finishing.
How long does temple filler last?
Temple filler typically lasts about 12–18 months, and sometimes longer when placed deep on the bone, because the area moves relatively little. Results are visible immediately and settle into their final shape at about 2 weeks.
- You may feel tenderness when chewing or yawning for a few days, because the temporal muscle helps you chew.
- Avoid pressing, massaging or wearing tight hats or headbands for about a week.
- Avoid saunas, strenuous exercise and alcohol for 2–3 days.
- Gentle makeup and hair washing are fine the next day.
Risks and possible side effects of temple filler
Temple filler is generally well tolerated, but the temple contains several blood vessels, so careful technique matters.
- Common: swelling, bruising, tenderness and a mild headache or jaw ache for a few days.
- Less common: unevenness between sides, visible lumps or ridges, or prominent veins if filler is placed too superficially.
- Vascular occlusion (rare but serious): the temporal artery and its branches run through this area. Filler entering a vessel can block blood flow, causing skin damage or, very rarely, vision problems.
Hyaluronic acid temple filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed. Contact the clinic immediately if you notice severe pain, skin color changes (pale, purple or mottled), or any change in your vision.
Temple filler vs other ways to rebalance the face
Temple filler restores volume; it does not lift loose skin or slim the jaw. A balanced result often comes from combining small treatments rather than a large amount in one area:
- Under-eye hollows often appear together with temple hollowing; see under-eye filler .
- A wide lower face can make the temples look narrower; jawline Botox slims the jaw muscle.
- Gradual volume with skin firming may suit a collagen-stimulating injectable; see collagen stimulators .
Planning several areas together is described on our facial balancing page.
Temple filler at Hommage Clinic
Hommage Clinic is a women's health and skin clinic in Gangnam, a short walk from Sinnonhyeon Station. Walk-ins are welcome, or book ahead for a set time. A doctor assesses your temples in relation to the rest of your face, chooses the injection depth and performs the treatment, and hyaluronidase is kept in the clinic.
Cost depends on how much filler each side needs and the product used. Temple filler is a cosmetic treatment and is not covered by Korea's National Health Insurance; you receive a written quote before treatment. You can compare related options in ourskin and aesthetics guide.
Face shape
Hollow temples: why they make the face look narrow and tired
From the front, a healthy upper face usually curves gently outward from the forehead to the cheekbones. When the temples sink, that curve breaks into a dip, and the forehead looks narrower while the cheekbones and jaw look wider by comparison. This is why hollow temples can make a face look angular, older or more tired than you feel, even when the skin itself is in good condition.
Restoring the temples is less about adding fullness and more about reconnecting the outline. In Korean aesthetic practice, a smooth, gently rounded upper face is often seen as part of a soft, youthful shape, which is one reason temple filler is often combined with other small contour treatments.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Temples are assessed from the front and side before any filler. Illustrative photo.
Technique
Temple filler techniques: deep on the bone vs superficial cannula
The temple is built in layers: skin, a thin fatty layer, a tough fascia, the temporal muscle and then bone. Blood vessels, including branches of the superficial temporal artery and a large vein, run through the upper layers. This is why doctors use either of two main approaches, chosen for your anatomy and the shape of your hollow.
A deep injection places a small amount of firmer filler under the muscle, directly on the bone, with a needle at a single point. It builds structure with a low chance of visible lumps. A superficial technique uses a blunt cannula to spread a softer filler evenly in the fatty layer, which suits wider, shallower hollows. Sometimes both are combined. Dr. Kim explains which one fits your temples and why.
| Compare | Deep on the bone | Superficial cannula |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | Fine needle, single point | Blunt cannula, one entry point |
| Filler | Firmer, more structural gel | Softer, more spreadable gel |
| Best for | Deeper, well-defined hollows | Wider, shallower hollows |
| Watch for | Chewing tenderness for a few days | Visible ridges or veins if placed too high |
Recovery
Temple filler recovery: what the first two weeks feel like
Temple filler has little visible downtime, but it does have a characteristic feeling: because the temporal muscle helps you chew, the area can ache or feel tight when you eat, yawn or clench for a few days. A mild headache is also common at first. Swelling is usually modest and hidden by the hairline, and the result settles into its final shape at about two weeks.
Avoid tight hats, headbands, helmets and firm massage over the temples for about a week, so the filler is not pushed out of place while it integrates.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Avoid tight headbands and pressure on the temples for about a week. Illustrative photo.
Aftercare
Temple filler aftercare: do's and don'ts
Most people return to work the same day. The main goals in the first week are to avoid pushing the filler out of place and to keep swelling low. Hair washing and gentle makeup are fine from the next day.
Do
- Choose softer foods if chewing feels sore
- Wash your hair gently from the next day
- Use simple pain relief your doctor approves for a mild headache
- Check both sides at about 2 weeks
- Contact the clinic about severe pain, skin colour change or vision change
Don't
- Wear tight hats, headbands or helmets for about a week
- Massage or press on the temples for about a week
- Use saunas, train hard or drink alcohol for 2–3 days
- Have scalp or facial treatments over the temples for 2 weeks
- Ignore pain that keeps getting worse
Your situation
Temple filler for slim, active and maturing faces
Hollow temples are not only an ageing sign. Runners, cyclists and people who train intensively or have lost weight often notice their temples sinking in their 20s or 30s, because there is little fat in the area to begin with. People with a naturally narrow upper face compared with their cheekbones and jaw can also have temple dips from early adulthood.
From the 40s onward, temple hollowing usually comes together with other changes: hollowing under the eyes, flatter cheeks and some loosening of the skin. In that case, temple filler works best as one part of a plan. Under-eye filler , collagen stimulators or lifting such as HIFU may be discussed alongside it.
When to see a doctor first
If your temples have hollowed quickly together with weight loss you cannot explain, or you have frequent headaches or jaw joint pain, please mention it. These deserve a general medical check before any cosmetic treatment.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Slim, active people often notice hollow temples earlier. Illustrative photo.
Evidence
Is temple filler safe? What regulators and research say
Hyaluronic acid filler is a regulated medical device, and most side effects of temple filler are mild and short-lived. The temple is not among the areas most often linked to vision loss in published reviews, but it does contain significant vessels, and serious complications have been reported from many facial sites. Evidence about temple filler specifically comes mainly from clinical series and anatomical studies rather than large trials, so precise complication rates for this area are not well established.
Of blindness-case injection sites were the temple
21 of 577 injection locations in 511 published cases (1906–2023). Low, but not zero.
Aesthet Surg J, 2024 [3]Highest-risk sites
Nose (37.4%), forehead (23.1%) and glabella (22.0%) of reported injection locations; the temple was not in the top three.
Aesthet Surg J, 2024 [3]Temple techniques described
A 2025 review of upper-face filler described four temple techniques in different layers, each with named vessels to avoid (such as the superficial temporal artery and middle temporal vein), and found no standardized procedure.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open, 2025 [4]Serious vessel events
Listed by the FDA among rare but reported filler risks, including stroke and blindness.
US FDA, Dermal Fillers [1]Approved age range
FDA filler approvals cover adults aged 22 and over.
US FDA, Dermal Fillers [1]Traveling to Seoul
Temple filler in Seoul for international patients
Temple filler fits well into a visit to Seoul: it takes under an hour including numbing, swelling is mostly hidden by the hairline, and you can go sightseeing the same day. Hommage Women's Clinic is in Gangnam, a short walk from Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9 and Shinbundang Line).
Planning your visit
- Have treatment early in your stay and plan at least 5–7 days in Seoul, ideally with a review before you fly.
- Pack soft hair ties and avoid tight hats or headbands for the first week.
- Bring your passport, a list of medicines, and details of any previous filler or thread lifting in the area.
- Send front and side photos and your questions in advance by WhatsApp, KakaoTalk or the contact form.
After you fly home
Keep a written record of the product and amount for each side. Send photos at about two weeks if you are unsure about symmetry. Seek urgent local care for severe pain, skin colour change or any change in vision.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Temple filler fits easily into a stay in Seoul. Illustrative photo.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Ask which technique is planned for your temples and why. Illustrative photo.
Choosing well
How to choose a clinic for temple filler in Seoul
Temple filler looks simple from the outside, but the layers and vessels underneath make technique important. A good clinic will explain where the filler will go, how much each side needs and what happens if something goes wrong.
Ask before you book
- Will a doctor examine my temples from the front and side first?
- Is a deep or cannula technique planned for me, and why?
- Which MFDS-licensed product is used, and how much per side?
- Is hyaluronidase kept in the clinic for emergencies?
- Is a review at about 2 weeks included for fine balancing?
What affects the cost of temple filler in Seoul?
The cost depends on how deep the hollows are and how much filler each side needs, the product, the technique, whether the treatment is done in one or two stages, and whether other areas are treated at the same visit. Temple filler is cosmetic and not covered by Korea's National Health Insurance, and you receive a written quote before treatment.
Your visit
What to expect at your temple filler appointment
01
Consultation
Dr. Kim looks at your temples from the front and side, asks about headaches or jaw pain, and agrees how much correction looks natural.
02
Numbing
Numbing cream is applied for 20–30 minutes, and the injection points are marked and disinfected.
03
Injection
Filler is placed deep on the bone or with a cannula in the fatty layer, checking symmetry on both sides.
04
Aftercare
You receive aftercare instructions, and the result is reviewed at about 2 weeks if any fine balancing is needed.
Your doctor
Dr. Kim Hyunbin
Associate Director · Skin & Aesthetic Treatments
Dr. Kim plans temple filler as part of the whole upper-face outline, aiming for a smooth curve from forehead to cheekbone rather than visible fullness. The injection depth and technique are chosen after examining your temple anatomy and skin thickness.
Associate director dedicated to skin and aesthetic procedures, with extensive experience in lifting, botulinum toxin, fillers and laser treatments.
Temple filler: frequently asked questions
Does temple filler hurt?
Temple filler is usually mildly uncomfortable. Numbing cream is used and most fillers contain lidocaine, so many people feel pressure or a dull ache rather than sharp pain. Afterward, the temples can feel tender, especially when chewing or yawning, for a few days.
How long does temple filler last?
Temple filler typically lasts about 12–18 months, sometimes longer when placed deep on the bone. How long it lasts depends on the product, the amount, the injection depth and your metabolism. A smaller top-up is usually enough to maintain the result.
How much filler do temples need?
It varies with how hollow your temples are and how wide your face is. Some people need only a small amount per side, while deeper hollows need more, sometimes in two stages. Your doctor will explain the expected amount and the reasoning at your consultation rather than using a fixed formula.
Can temple filler cause headaches?
Some people notice a mild headache or jaw ache for a few days, because the filler sits near the temporal muscle used for chewing. This usually settles on its own. Persistent or severe pain, or any change in vision, is not normal and needs prompt review.
Will temple filler lift my eyebrows?
Temple filler can give the outer brow a little more support, which may make it look slightly lifted, but it is not a brow lift. If the brow sits low because of loose skin, a lifting treatment such as thread lifting or energy-based lifting may be discussed.
Can foreigners get temple filler in Seoul?
Yes. Visitors and foreign residents can have temple filler at Hommage Clinic; bring your passport or residence card. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours, or you can book ahead; contact us before your visit to arrange language support. Treatment early in your trip allows a review before you leave.
Is deep or cannula temple filler better?
Neither is better for everyone. A deep injection on the bone suits deeper, well-defined hollows and gives structure with a low chance of visible lumps. A blunt cannula in the fatty layer suits wider, shallower hollows and spreads filler evenly. Some people benefit from both. Your doctor chooses after examining your temples.
Why do my temples hurt when I chew after filler?
The temporal muscle, which lies under the temple, helps you chew. Filler placed near it can make chewing, yawning or clenching feel tender for a few days. Softer foods help, and the feeling usually fades within days. Pain that keeps getting worse should be reviewed promptly.
Can I wear a hat or headband after temple filler?
Avoid tight hats, headbands, helmets and firm pressure on the temples for about a week, so the filler is not pushed out of place while it settles. Loose hats and soft hair ties are fine.
Can temple filler make my veins more visible?
It can if filler is placed too close to the surface, because it can push veins outward or make them more noticeable. Choosing the right depth reduces this risk. If it happens with hyaluronic acid filler, it can usually be improved or dissolved with hyaluronidase.
Can temple filler be combined with other treatments?
Yes. Temple hollowing often comes with under-eye hollows or a wider-looking lower face, so temple filler is often planned with under-eye filler, jawline Botox or facial balancing. Your doctor will suggest an order and spacing.
Is temple filler risky?
Most side effects are mild, such as swelling, bruising and chewing tenderness. The temple contains branches of the temporal artery and a large vein, so a rare vascular complication is possible, as with fillers anywhere on the face. Careful technique and hyaluronidase kept on hand reduce the risk. Seek help immediately for severe pain, skin colour change or vision change.
References
Sources used for this page, reviewed by Dr. Kim Hyunbin. Read our editorial and medical review policy.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers): approved uses and risks. Updated July 2023. FDA
- Vision loss associated with hyaluronic acid fillers: a systematic review of literature. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2020;44(3):929–944. PubMed
- Doyon VC, Liu C, Fitzgerald R, Humphrey S, Jones D, Carruthers JDA, Beleznay K. Update on blindness from filler: review of prognostic factors, management approaches, and a century of published cases. Aesthet Surg J. 2024;44(10):1091–1104. doi:10.1093/asj/sjae091. Aesthetic Surgery Journal
- Colucci L, Rengifo J. Hyaluronic acid filler usage and technique for the facial upper third: a comprehensive review. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2025;13(4):e6668. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000006668. PMC(authors disclose affiliation with a filler manufacturer's training institute)
This page is general information and does not replace a personal consultation. Illustrations are original works of Hommage Women's Clinic, Gangnam, Seoul; photos marked illustrative are not of patients.
Related filler and contouring treatments
Dermal Fillers
How hyaluronic acid fillers work, how long they last and how they are dissolved.
Under-Eye Filler
Soft filler for tear-trough hollows that often appear with temple hollowing.
Facial Balancing
Small, planned treatments across several areas for a harmonious face shape.
See whether temple filler suits your face shape
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim Hyunbin in Gangnam to discuss your temples, the right technique and realistic results.
Hommage Clinic · 4F, Building A, 509 Gangnam-daero, Seoul (near Sinnonhyeon Station) · Mon & Fri 10:00–20:00 · Tue–Thu 10:00–19:00 · Sat 10:00–15:00