Just to clarify, the Artefill skin test syringe contains everything in the normal Artefill syringe except the PMMA microspheres, of course. After all, one wouldn't want a permanently augmented forearm! :-)
The reaction we're testing for is an allergic reaction to the bovine (cow) collagen in which the microspheres are suspended. Although exceedingly rare with the partially denatured collagen in Artefill, allergic reactions to the cow collagen is possible. If you've ever seen what hives look like, the reaction would be similar to this, but just at the test site on the forearm. It would look like a swollen, itchy, raised area of skin.
Most of us would recommend having the skin test about 4 weeks before an actual Artefill injection, just to be safe, but in reality the reaction would likely occur much sooner than 4 weeks out.
All the best,
--DCP
