Temporal Artery Ligation

Q: Dr. Eppley, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my temporal artery ligation questions.  I am wondering if you haven’t treated women for this condition before because (a) women usually have a higher body fat percentage than men and statistically are less likely to have this issue and (b) the women who do have it are able to cover it with their hair? 

A: I haven’t treated women for temporal artery ligations before simply because one has never presented for the procedure. There is nothing inherently different in a woman vs a man on how the procedure would be done. But the most likely reason it is far more common in men is because they have larger arteries with thicker muscle layers which are more sensitive to stimulation, perhaps because of the hormonal differences between men and women. (higher testosterone levels)

In theory one would think that many women would be more susceptible than men because they have a thinner subcutaneous fat layer and the temporal arteries would be more exposed. But this is clearly not the case since I have yet to see a female ask to have the procedure done.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana