2025 SCALE: Temple Filler Is Underappreciated But Crucial 

At the 20th anniversary of the Music City Symposium for Cosmetic Advances and Laser Education (SCALE), Vince Bertucci, MD, FRCPC, gave a lecture titled “Temple Fillers: Revisiting Current Dogma.” 

Key takeaway messages from the lecture included:

THE TEMPLE’S ROLE IN FACIAL AESTHETICS IS UNDERAPPRECIATED BUT CRUCIAL
Although patients rarely request temple filler, Dr. Bertucci explained that temple hollowing is a visually significant marker of aging. Correction of temporal concavity, especially in the posterior temple and hairline, creates a more youthful, balanced, and natural facial appearance. The smooth, convex light reflex extending from the zygomatic arch through the temple and hairline is a hallmark of facial harmony and youth. 

POSTERIOR TEMPLE AND HAIRLINE VOLUMIZATION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OPTIMAL RESULTS
Dr. Bertucci continued his lecture explaining the treatment locations for temple filler. Traditionally, filler has been placed in the anterior temple to lift the trail of the brow, address sagging, and improve contour. While this is very important, Dr. Bertucci emphasized that treating only the anterior temple is sometimes insufficient. Volumizing the posterior temple and hairline, particularly where it meets the lateral zygomatic arch, produces a more cohesive, subtle lift and restores a convex, youthful contour. This change influences how light reflects on the face, subtly enhancing aesthetics and giving a lifted appearance, without overt signs of intervention. 

TECHNIQUE MUST PRIORITIZE CAUTION, ANATOMY, AND SUBTLETY
The posterior temple is a high-risk vascular area, especially due to the proximity of the superficial temporal artery. Dr. Bertucci explained he takes a slow, cautious injection approach using a cannula—not a needle—in the subdermal plane, applying minimal pressure and product—often just 0.5 cc per side. If you place it immediately behind the hairline, Dr. Bertucci added, it will lift that area out, creating a beautiful contour in a product-efficient manner. Proper anatomical landmarks such as the zygomatic arch and temporal crest should guide the injection to ensure safety and effectiveness. Dr. Bertucci put an emphasis on injecting very slowly and cautiously when treating the temple region.
“Temple filler injection is an advanced technique,” Dr. Bertucci said. “Training and experience are crucial. Serious complications such as vascular occlusion and blindness may occur on rare occasions.”
Dr. Bertucci’s goal with his patients is for a subtle fill in the temple region, giving a “balanced and refreshed” appearance, while making sure the patient does not look overfilled, he said.

As part of Modern Aesthetics’ Music City SCALE coverage, Dr. Bertucci sat down with Joel L. Cohen, MD, FAAD, for a video interview to discuss injecting the temple. Click here to watch the video interview.