Following the injection of Artecoll into the lower dermis (subdermally), the collagen vehicle will become degraded by the body within 1 - 3 months. All microspheres will become totally and evenly encapsulated by a fine fibrous capsule, with minimal inflammatory reaction. This process will be completed withing 2 - 4 months after injection. Since the PMMA microspheres are non-biodegradable and too large to be phagocytized or migrate, the resulting augmentation will be long lasting, if not permanent.