Extended Autologous Fat Grafting for Temporal Contour Restoration.

backgroundContinuity of the temporal contour is essential for maintaining a smooth transition from the lateral forehead to the zygomatic arch. Although autologous fat grafting is commonly used to correct temporal hollowing, conventional temple-focused augmentation may be insufficient to restore overall temporal contour continuity. This study presents an extended temporal fat grafting approach to address this limitation.

methodsExtended temporal fat grafting was performed, with deep grafting in the loose areolar plane overlying the temporalis muscle. Selective superficial refinement was performed in the anterior temporal region when necessary. Outcomes were assessed using standardized patient-reported satisfaction measures.

resultsThe mean satisfaction score was 2.32 ± 0.48. Secondary touch-up grafting was required in 3.6% of cases. No major complications or perceived posterior temporal hairline changes were observed during follow-up.

conclusionsExtended autologous fat grafting involving both the anterior and posterior temporal regions, combined with a dual-entry cross-tunneling technique within the loose areolar space, provided satisfactory temporal contour restoration in this case series. No perceived posterior temporal hairline changes were observed during follow-up. This approach may represent a safe and practical strategy for addressing temporal contour deficiency, although comparative studies are required to further evaluate its potential advantages over conventional techniques. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors  www.springer.com/00266 .