hollow temples and sunken cheeks
In Korea this is often called a “peanut-shaped face”: hollow temples above, hollow cheeks below, and the cheekbones look wider in between. The shadow can come from lost fat, thin skin, bone shape, or simply how light falls on your face, and each one is handled differently. A good consultation starts by working out which it is for you.
“My cheekbones look wider every year. Is that my bones or something else?”
“Will filler in my temples look natural, or puffy?”
The temples and the area under the cheekbones carry soft fat pads. As they thin, the bone above them stands out more, even though the bone itself has not changed.
How a doctor tellsThe doctor compares old photos with your face now and feels how much soft tissue sits over the bone.
Some faces are simply built wider at the cheekbone. The hollows are the contrast, not a loss.
How a doctor tellsHollows have been there since your twenties and your weight has been stable.
When skin loses firmness it drapes into dips rather than smoothing over them, which deepens the shadow.
How a doctor tellsPinching the skin shows thinness; the hollow changes noticeably when you lie down.
Overhead light and front-camera distortion exaggerate both cheekbones and hollows.
How a doctor tellsThe doctor looks at you in even light and from the side, not only in a selfie.
A map for your consultation, not a prescription. The doctor decides which cause applies to you.
Care and makeup
Injections
Devices and lasers
Surgery
Doing nothing
| Option | When you see it | How long it lasts | Can it be reversed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HA filler | Same day, after swelling settles | Months to about a year, varies by area | Yes, it can be dissolved |
| Collagen stimulator | Gradually over 1–3 months | Often longer than HA | No |
| Fat grafting | After swelling, then some loss | The surviving fat is long lasting | Not easily |
Not sure which cause is yours? Send us your concern and dates; we match you to a doctor who will tell you honestly.
Talk to a coordinatorKorean HA fillers on our partner list run about $65–$105 per cc, imported brands about $180–$285 per cc. Ask how many cc the doctor plans for each side; temples often need less than people expect.
Filler is quicker, adjustable and reversible. Fat grafting lasts longer but is surgery with more swelling, and not all the fat survives. On our list fat grafting runs about $715 for one area and $1,785 for the full face, before 10% VAT.
No. Injections cannot make bone smaller. What they can do is soften the hollows around the cheekbone so it stands out less.
Most people go about their day, with some swelling or bruising for a few days. Plan it early in a trip so the doctor can check you before you fly.
READ NEXT