Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implants

Temporal augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to restore volume and fullness to the temple area, correcting a sunken or hollowed appearance. This condition often results from aging, genetics, or significant weight loss, giving the face a more skeletal look. By addressing this deficit, temporal augmentation with silicone implants can create a smoother facial contour, enhance overall facial symmetry, and provide a more youthful and vibrant appearance.

⌵ What is Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implants?

Temporal augmentation with silicone implants is a permanent surgical procedure that involves placing soft, flexible silicone implants into the hollow areas of the temples. The implants are designed to fill out the depressions on the sides of the forehead, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing oval or heart-shaped face. This method provides a reliable and lasting solution with a lower risk of volume loss compared to temporary alternatives.

Types of Temporal Augmentation

While this page focuses on silicone implants, it’s important to know that temporal augmentation can be achieved through several methods:

  • Silicone Implants: A permanent surgical solution that involves placing custom-made or pre-molded silicone implants.
  • Injectable Fillers: Non-surgical options using materials like hyaluronic acid to temporarily add volume. Results typically last 6-12 months.
  • Fat Grafting: A surgical procedure that transfers fat from another part of the body to the temples. This is also a semi-permanent solution with variable results.​

⌵Types of Silicone Implants

The choice of silicone implant depends on your unique facial anatomy and desired outcome:

3D Customized Silicone Implants: These are custom-designed for each patient. The process involves a CT scan to create a precise 3D model of your skull, ensuring a perfect, one-to-one fit for your facial structure. This method provides the most accurate and natural-looking results.

Pre-molded/Standard Silicone Implants: These are ready-made implants that come in various standard shapes and sizes. An experienced surgeon will select the most appropriate size and shape to fit your temples. This type of implant is more readily available and can be used without the need for a prior CT scan.

Technique of Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implant

The procedure is performed through a small incision made within the hairline, just above the ear. This incision is strategically placed to ensure any scarring is not visible. Through this small opening, the surgeon carefully creates a pocket to position the silicone implant. The implant is placed either under the deep temporal fascia or on top of the temporalis muscle, depending on the specific implant design and desired projection. The surgeon adjusts the implant to ensure a smooth, natural-looking contour before closing the incision.

⌵ What is Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implants?

Temporal augmentation with silicone implants is a permanent surgical procedure that involves placing soft, flexible silicone implants into the hollow areas of the temples. The implants are designed to fill out the depressions on the sides of the forehead, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing oval or heart-shaped face. This method provides a reliable and lasting solution with a lower risk of volume loss compared to temporary alternatives.

Types of Temporal Augmentation

While this page focuses on silicone implants, it’s important to know that temporal augmentation can be achieved through several methods:

  • Silicone Implants: A permanent surgical solution that involves placing custom-made or pre-molded silicone implants.
  • Injectable Fillers: Non-surgical options using materials like hyaluronic acid to temporarily add volume. Results typically last 6-12 months.
  • Fat Grafting: A surgical procedure that transfers fat from another part of the body to the temples. This is also a semi-permanent solution with variable results.​

⌵Types of Silicone Implants

The choice of silicone implant depends on your unique facial anatomy and desired outcome:

3D Customized Silicone Implants: These are custom-designed for each patient. The process involves a CT scan to create a precise 3D model of your skull, ensuring a perfect, one-to-one fit for your facial structure. This method provides the most accurate and natural-looking results.

Pre-molded/Standard Silicone Implants: These are ready-made implants that come in various standard shapes and sizes. An experienced surgeon will select the most appropriate size and shape to fit your temples. This type of implant is more readily available and can be used without the need for a prior CT scan.

Technique of Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implant

The procedure is performed through a small incision made within the hairline, just above the ear. This incision is strategically placed to ensure any scarring is not visible. Through this small opening, the surgeon carefully creates a pocket to position the silicone implant. The implant is placed either under the deep temporal fascia or on top of the temporalis muscle, depending on the specific implant design and desired projection. The surgeon adjusts the implant to ensure a smooth, natural-looking contour before closing the incision.

Why Vaginal Dilation Matters

Vaginal dilation is one of the most important parts of recovery after gender-affirming surgery (GAS). Without it, the neovagina will naturally shrink over time — losing both depth and width. This isn’t a risk you manage passively: daily dilation for the first two to three years is what protects your surgical result, and depth that’s lost from missed sessions cannot be regained. Consistency is a discipline, not an option.

For patients who feel comfortable with Size 4 and wish to continue expansion, an optional Size 5 dilator (35 mm) is available for purchase. However, sizes larger than Size 4 are generally not necessary for maintaining neovaginal health unless specifically recommended.

Why We Build to 6–7 Inches, Not Less

A surgically constructed neovagina — especially one made with a skin graft — doesn’t stretch the way natural vaginal tissue does. Its deepest point can’t expand significantly under pressure, whether from penetration or from a dilator. In practical terms: the depth created at surgery is close to the maximum depth you will ever have.

Two things make this matter:

  • Limited elasticity. Because the deepest tissue doesn’t expand later, a neovagina built to less than 4 inches may not function well for penetrative intercourse — there’s little room to compensate.
  • Skin graft contraction. Grafted tissue can naturally shrink over time. A neovagina built to 6–7 inches can lose an inch or so to contraction and remain fully functional; one built to only 4 inches has no margin to lose.

This is exactly why consistent dilation matters: it’s what counteracts this natural contraction and protects the depth your surgery achieved.

  • Maintaining depth: Inserting the dilator to the depth achieved at your surgery and holding steady pressure is what prevents the canal from narrowing. The target is to maintain that original depth, not to keep expanding it.
  • Maintaining width: Progressing gradually to larger dilator sizes — similar to stretching an ear piercing — keeps the tissue flexible and functional.

At WIH Hospital, patient education and postoperative support are central to good outcomes. Proper dilation technique is just as important as the surgery itself.

⌵ What is Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implants?

Temporal augmentation with silicone implants is a permanent surgical procedure that involves placing soft, flexible silicone implants into the hollow areas of the temples. The implants are designed to fill out the depressions on the sides of the forehead, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing oval or heart-shaped face. This method provides a reliable and lasting solution with a lower risk of volume loss compared to temporary alternatives.

Types of Temporal Augmentation

While this page focuses on silicone implants, it’s important to know that temporal augmentation can be achieved through several methods:

  • Silicone Implants: A permanent surgical solution that involves placing custom-made or pre-molded silicone implants.
  • Injectable Fillers: Non-surgical options using materials like hyaluronic acid to temporarily add volume. Results typically last 6-12 months.
  • Fat Grafting: A surgical procedure that transfers fat from another part of the body to the temples. This is also a semi-permanent solution with variable results.​

⌵Types of Silicone Implants

The choice of silicone implant depends on your unique facial anatomy and desired outcome:

3D Customized Silicone Implants: These are custom-designed for each patient. The process involves a CT scan to create a precise 3D model of your skull, ensuring a perfect, one-to-one fit for your facial structure. This method provides the most accurate and natural-looking results.

Pre-molded/Standard Silicone Implants: These are ready-made implants that come in various standard shapes and sizes. An experienced surgeon will select the most appropriate size and shape to fit your temples. This type of implant is more readily available and can be used without the need for a prior CT scan.

Technique of Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implant

The procedure is performed through a small incision made within the hairline, just above the ear. This incision is strategically placed to ensure any scarring is not visible. Through this small opening, the surgeon carefully creates a pocket to position the silicone implant. The implant is placed either under the deep temporal fascia or on top of the temporalis muscle, depending on the specific implant design and desired projection. The surgeon adjusts the implant to ensure a smooth, natural-looking contour before closing the incision.

Why Vaginal Dilation Matters

Vaginal dilation is one of the most important parts of recovery after gender-affirming surgery (GAS). Without it, the neovagina will naturally shrink over time — losing both depth and width. This isn’t a risk you manage passively: daily dilation for the first two to three years is what protects your surgical result, and depth that’s lost from missed sessions cannot be regained. Consistency is a discipline, not an option.

For patients who feel comfortable with Size 4 and wish to continue expansion, an optional Size 5 dilator (35 mm) is available for purchase. However, sizes larger than Size 4 are generally not necessary for maintaining neovaginal health unless specifically recommended.

Why We Build to 6–7 Inches, Not Less

A surgically constructed neovagina — especially one made with a skin graft — doesn’t stretch the way natural vaginal tissue does. Its deepest point can’t expand significantly under pressure, whether from penetration or from a dilator. In practical terms: the depth created at surgery is close to the maximum depth you will ever have.

Two things make this matter:

  • Limited elasticity. Because the deepest tissue doesn’t expand later, a neovagina built to less than 4 inches may not function well for penetrative intercourse — there’s little room to compensate.
  • Skin graft contraction. Grafted tissue can naturally shrink over time. A neovagina built to 6–7 inches can lose an inch or so to contraction and remain fully functional; one built to only 4 inches has no margin to lose.

This is exactly why consistent dilation matters: it’s what counteracts this natural contraction and protects the depth your surgery achieved.

  • Maintaining depth: Inserting the dilator to the depth achieved at your surgery and holding steady pressure is what prevents the canal from narrowing. The target is to maintain that original depth, not to keep expanding it.
  • Maintaining width: Progressing gradually to larger dilator sizes — similar to stretching an ear piercing — keeps the tissue flexible and functional.

At WIH Hospital, patient education and postoperative support are central to good outcomes. Proper dilation technique is just as important as the surgery itself.

⌵What to Expect

Before your surgery, you will have a thorough consultation with the surgeon to discuss the aesthetic goals and a personalized plan. The procedure itself is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia and takes approximately 1-2 hours. Patients can usually return home the same day.

Preparation for Surgery

Medications: Stop taking blood-thinning medications (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen), vitamin E, and herbal supplements at least one week before surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising.

Smoking/Alcohol: Refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol for at least four weeks before and after the procedure, as nicotine and alcohol can impair wound healing.

Hygiene: Wash your hair and face thoroughly the morning of the surgery.

Day of Surgery: Arrive without makeup or jewelry and ensure you have a ride home.

⌵Step-by-Step Surgical Process

  1. Anesthesia: Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia is administered to ensure comfort throughout the procedure.
  2. Incisions: The surgeon makes a small incision (typically 2-3 cm) within the hairline, approximately 1-2 cm above the ear.
  3. Pocket Creation: A subfascial or submuscular pocket is meticulously created to accommodate the implant.
  4. Implant Insertion: The silicone implant is carefully inserted and positioned to achieve the desired contour and symmetry.
  5. Closure: The incision is closed using medical sutures or staples, and a dressing is applied to the area.

  Recovery Process

The initial recovery is relatively quick. You can expect mild swelling and bruising, which usually peak within 48 hours and begin to subside over the next 1-2 weeks. You may feel some tightness or numbness, which is normal and will gradually fade. Most patients can return to work and light activities within a week. Strenuous exercise and activities that put pressure on the implant should be avoided for several weeks to ensure proper healing.

  Post-Operative Instructions

  1. Head Elevation: Keep your head elevated on a few pillows for the first few days to minimize swelling.
  2. Ice Packs: Use cold compresses on the temples for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off during the first 24-48 hours.
  3. Medication: Take prescribed pain medication and antibiotics as directed by your surgeon.
  4. Hygiene: Follow the surgeon’s specific instructions on when and how to wash your hair and face. Avoid touching or rubbing the incision sites.
  5. Activity: Avoid vigorous physical activity and any contact sports for at least 4-6 weeks.
  6. Sun Exposure: Protect the surgical area from direct sunlight until it has fully healed.

⌵What You Need to Know About Temporal Augmentation with Silicone Implants

Permanent Results: Unlike temporary fillers that require repeat injections, silicone implants offer a permanent solution to hollow temples. The results are long-lasting, providing a consistent and stable facial contour.

Safe and Proven Material: The silicone used in these implants is a medically approved, highly safe material that has been used in various cosmetic procedures for decades. It is soft, flexible, and designed to integrate well with your body’s natural tissues.

Minimal Scarring: The surgical incision is discreetly placed within the hairline, just above the ear. This strategic placement ensures that any scarring is not visible on your face, allowing you to enjoy your results with confidence.

Customization Options: You have the choice between a highly personalized 3D customized implant, which is perfectly molded to your unique anatomy, or a standard, pre-molded implant. Both options provide excellent results, with the customized approach offering the highest level of precision.

Removable and Reversible: A key advantage of using silicone implants is that the procedure is fully reversible. If you are ever dissatisfied with the results or wish to make changes in the future, the implant can be surgically removed completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Silicone implants provide a permanent solution and are often a more precise and cost-effective option in the long run. They also have fewer complications compared to repeated filler injections.

Yes. The implants are made from a soft, flexible silicone that is designed to feel like natural tissue. They are placed deep within the temporal area, making them virtually undetectable to the touch and ensuring a smooth, natural-looking contour.

Yes, one of the key advantages of silicone implants is that they can be surgically removed completely if you are not satisfied with the results or wish to make changes in the future.

No, the incision is strategically placed within the hairline, so any resulting scar is well-hidden and not visible on the face.

The majority of the swelling subsides within the first two weeks. However, subtle residual swelling may take a few months to fully resolve before the final results are visible.

WIH Hospital

Book your consultation

Ready to learn more, or need support with your dilation routine? Contact Dr. Chettasak’s team at WIH International Hospital.

WhatsApp: +66 95 650 3892
info@wihhospital.com