Temple Filler: The Hollow Most People Miss
Dr. Jong Seon Kim Β· Director, Gangnam HERA4 min readLast updated 
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I'm Dr. Jong Seon Kim, a plastic surgeon at Gangnam HERA in Seoul and a board member of the International Petit Medical Society. Patients almost never walk in asking about their temples. They point at the cheeks, or the under-eyes, and say they look tired. Then I hold a mirror up at an angle and show them the hollow above the cheekbone β and the conversation changes.
Why does filling the temples change the whole face?
Because the upper face is read as a single outline. When the temples hollow, the outline narrows there and the cheekbones and brow bone stand out by contrast β the effect reads as gaunt or tired even when the skin itself is fine. Restoring volume smooths that transition, and the face looks rested rather than "filled".
This is why I sometimes treat temples when a patient came in about something else entirely. It is not upselling; it is that the hollow they were pointing at is the shadow, not the cause.
Who it suits β and who it doesn't
- Hollowing above the cheekbone that makes the upper face look narrow or drawn
- A face that looks tired in photographs despite good skin
- Volume loss from ageing or significant weight loss
It is not for you if your concern is sagging along the jawline or neck β that is laxity, not volume, and filler is the wrong tool. In that case I will talk to you about lifting instead.
What we do in the room
Temple work is part of how we plan facial volume overall β the face is assessed as a whole, and volume is placed where the outline needs it rather than where the patient first pointed. Topical numbing cream is applied; local anaesthetic if needed. Most volume sessions run about 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many areas we treat.
Changes are visible immediately, which is useful here: you can see the outline soften in the mirror before you leave.
Recovery and what to expect
Most patients resume daily activities immediately. Mild swelling, redness or a small bruise may appear and usually settles within a few days. If you are flying, tell us your dates β bruising is the thing most likely to interfere with plans, and it is easy to schedule around.
Why temples hollow in the first place
Two things happen with age and with significant weight loss: the fat pads in the upper face shrink, and the bone underneath remodels subtly. The temple sits over both. That is why temple hollowing often appears in people who are otherwise slim and well β it is not a skin problem and no cream reaches it.
It also explains why treating only the cheeks sometimes fails to satisfy. Volume restored below a hollow temple can make the contrast sharper rather than softer.
How temple work changes the rest of the plan
Because the upper face is read as an outline, restoring the temple often reduces how much volume the cheeks need. I have had patients arrive expecting substantial cheek work who left with less placed there than they expected, because the outline no longer demanded it. Less product for a better result is the outcome I am aiming for, and it is only possible if the face is assessed whole.
If your main concern is the lower face β jawline, jowls, neck β that is laxity and belongs to a different conversation. Volume placed above will not lift what has descended below.
What patients ask me next
- "Is the temple a risky area?" It has important anatomy, which is exactly why it should be a physician injecting with a clear plan rather than a fixed menu.
- "Will my face look wider?" Done correctly it looks rested, not wider. Width comes from over-placement, which is the error I actively avoid.
- "Can it be combined with lifting?" Yes, and often should be β volume and lift solve different problems, and sequencing them properly is part of the consultation.
The honest limits
Filler is maintained, not permanent. And volume has a ceiling: past a certain point, adding more stops reading as "rested" and starts reading as "done". I place less than patients often expect and ask them to come back, because the version of this treatment that goes wrong is almost always the overfilled one.
The clinical detail of the procedure β who it suits, how a session runs, recovery and the honest limits β is set out on our General Facial Fillers page.
Book a consultation
If you would like me to look at your case, send us a message and we will arrange a consultation β in person in Gangnam, or by photo first if you are still abroad. An English interpreter joins every consultation, and you receive an itemised written estimate before anything begins. International and local patients pay exactly the same.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1Why would I need temple filler if my concern is my cheeks?
Because the upper face reads as one outline. A hollow above the cheekbone narrows that outline and makes the whole upper face look drawn β often the hollow patients point at is the shadow rather than the cause.Q2How long does temple filler last?
It is maintained rather than permanent. Hyaluronic acid is gradually broken down by the body, and I will give you a realistic interval for your case at the consultation rather than a marketing figure.Q3Will it help sagging along my jawline?
No. Sagging is laxity, not lost volume, and filler is the wrong tool for it. If that is your main concern I will talk to you about lifting instead.Q4How much downtime is there?
Most patients resume daily activities immediately. Mild swelling, redness or a small bruise may appear and usually settles within a few days. Tell us your travel dates and we will plan around them.Q5Can temples be overfilled?
Yes, and it is the most common way this treatment goes wrong. Past a certain point added volume stops looking rested and starts looking done. I place less than most patients expect and ask them to return.
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On YouTube
Hear it from the doctors before you fly
Our doctors explain HERA's main treatments, lifting, filler and skin boosters, on camera, so you know who you are meeting and how they think before you land in Seoul.
Korean audio Β· auto-translated captions available on YouTube
16 videos
- 6:24Filler
Dr. Kim and Dr. Lee sort out how fillers, collagen injections and skin boosters differ, and which concern each one is for.
Dr. Jong Β· Dr. Jong - 7:36Clinic & doctors
HERA podcast ep. 3 β Dr. Kim and Dr. Lee look at the same face and explain the treatments they would choose, and why.
Dr. Jong Β· Dr. Jong - 8:07Lifting
What APTOS threads are, who they are recommended for, and a real patient's treatment and before-and-after.
Dr. Jong - 5:44Lifting
How APTOS compares with other lifting threads, what recovery is like and how long results last.
Dr. Jong Β· Dr. Jong - 4:20Filler
Dr. Kim shows how injection technique changes with the amount of filler, and how filler dissolves.
Dr. Jong - 5:50Filler
What a hollow upper eyelid is, filler vs fat grafting, how long it lasts and what to watch for.
Dr. Jong - 5:20Filler
Dr. Kim breaks down lip proportion, volume and mouth corners using well-known Korean celebrities' lips as examples.
Dr. Jong - 5:39Skin & boosters
Hydration, pores, breakouts or tone β matching the skin booster to what your skin actually needs.
Dr. Jong - 6:05Skin & boosters
Dr. Lee explains how Lituo and CaHA work, how they are injected and how often.
Dr. Jong - 5:00Skin & boosters
What Juvelook Eye is, what it is used for, how many sessions it takes and how long it lasts.
Dr. Jong - 5:56Lifting
Why lines form around the eyes, which treatments are combined, and Eye Thermage vs Eye Ulthera.
Dr. Jong - 4:58Lifting
Why Dr. Lee cares about lifting, and what he looks at first when he sees a patient.
Dr. Jong - 3:30Clinic & doctors
Dr. Han talks about what matters most in a consultation and the approach behind every treatment.
Dr. Jin - 5:29Skin & boosters
A tour of HERA's main devices and which skin concern β pores, texture or firmness β each one helps with.
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Three areas brides care about, recommended treatments, and what still works with a month to go.
Dr. Jong Β· Dr. Jong - 4:39Clinic & doctors
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Dr. Jong Β· Dr. Jong
Shorts
One question, under a minute
HERA TV
The doctors explain it on camera β then in writing
Each piece is written by the doctor from their own YouTube video: the patient question, why it happens and how we approach it.
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A Gangnam doctor explains the wrinkles that form around the mouth decade by decade, how to tell volume loss from sagging and fine lines, and the combination he uses: shallow Ultherapy, needle RF and CaHA, with touch-ups timed to the CaHA.
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Find Gangnam HERA
In Seocho-gu, Seoul, a three-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 9. Tap the map for directions.
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