Temporal Hollowing
A visible concavity in the temporal fossa resulting from age-related or post-surgical atrophy of the temporalis muscle and fat pad.
Full Definition
Temporal hollowing describes the aesthetic deformity characterised by visible depression at the temples, caused by progressive volume depletion of the temporal fat pad, superficial temporal fascia, and underlying temporalis muscle. It is a common manifestation of panfacial volume loss and may also occur as an unintended consequence of repeated Botulinum Toxin injections into the temporalis muscle for bruxism. Editors should ensure the term is hyphenated consistently or consistently unhyphenated per the publication's style guide, as both forms appear in the literature. It must not be confused with 'temporal wasting,' which typically implies a pathological cause such as cachexia or temporal arteritis rather than aesthetic ageing. In treatment plan documents, temporal hollowing is a distinct anatomical target requiring specific volumisation strategy.
Usage
Usage note: Reserve 'temporal wasting' for pathological contexts (e.g., malignancy, cachexia); use 'temporal hollowing' for age-related or iatrogenic aesthetic volume loss.
In Context
- "The treatment plan identified temporal hollowing as a priority concern, with proposed correction using a high-G-prime cohesive filler." — Aesthetic treatment plan document
- "The author used 'temporal wasting' throughout; the editor replaced each instance with 'temporal hollowing' as no systemic pathology was referenced." — Manuscript copy-editing note