Why Does It Take 6 Weeks To See The Final Result From Temporal Reduction Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a couple quick questions regarding the posterior temple reduction surgery that I have been very interested in. I’ve been reading up on it and it says that after the surgery, the full results won’t be shown until 6 weeks after. Why is this? Is it because there’s a shrink wrap effect that takes place to where the skin flattens and tightens over where the muscle was removed? Or is it because it takes 6 weeks for swelling to go down and for the muscle to atrophy? I understand you have two methods of either removing the whole muscle or tapering it off towards the back. Is there a significant difference between the two? Thanks in advance

A: To see the operation’s full effect it takes complete resolution of all the swelling. Like any other face or skull surgery this is the expected time for the full aesthetic effect to be seen. Most patients are well into the benefits phase by 2 or 3 weeks after surgery but its 100% result takes the full 6 weeks.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana