Sunken temples are common in individuals with narrow foreheads and prominent cheekbones, often described as a "walnut-shaped face." Traditionally, Chinese culture places significant emphasis on full temples for aesthetic appeal. Fortunately, temple augmentation procedures now offer a solution, transforming "walnut-shaped faces" into more attractive, well-proportioned features.However, individuals seeking this procedure must be aware of potential post-operative complications.
Those with a lean build often exhibit temporal (temple) hollows due to insufficient subcutaneous fat. In some cases, this is genetically determined, affecting the upper facial contour and creating the impression of a large head with a small face, or accentuating high cheekbones.In Chinese aesthetics, an underdeveloped forehead is not considered ideal. Consequently, more individuals are opting for temporal augmentation procedures to achieve fuller temples.
According to maxillofacial plastic surgeons, temporal filler surgery involves implanting materials like solid silicone or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) to elevate the temples. This procedure restores volume to sunken temples, creating a more natural and harmonious upper facial contour to enhance facial aesthetics.Although this procedure is relatively straightforward, complications may arise from improper planning, surgical technique, or issues with the filler material.
(1) Hematoma: Hematoma formation is solely attributable to surgical error, such as inadequate dissection of temporal layers, injury to superficial temporal vessels without thorough hemostasis, or damage to the scalp's galea aponeurotica without proper suturing, leading to scalp bleeding.
(2) Nerve Injury: Primarily occurs when dissecting the implant pocket due to unclear anatomical relationships or blind dissection, damaging the temporal branch of the facial nerve. In rare cases, it results from rough surgical manipulation injuring nerves.
(3) Implant Surface Projection: Post-implantation projection or a stepped appearance on the skin surface primarily results from improper preoperative silicone implant design—excessively large sculpted models failing to fully conform to temporal depressions—or from implant placement at too shallow a depth.