The purpose of this study as to select the absorbable suture material with the lowest level of foreign body reaction in the extraoral field. The absorbable sutures tested were polyglactin 910(Vicryl), polyglycolic acid(Dexon), and chromic gut. Black silk served as to control suture. Eighteen domestic rabbits served as the animal model for testing purposes. After shaving the fur, a six centimeter incision was made in the hind quarter of all eighteen animals. Each wound was then closed wit two Vicryl, two Dexon, and two chromic gut sutures. All wounds were closed in the same manner. A similar wound was made on the oppsite side and closed with black silk suture. Three rabbits were then sacrificed on postoperative day one, three, seven fourteen, twenty-one, and twenty- eight. The surgical sites were thee examined histologically. l. On days one, three, and seven all suture materials as a similar severe level of inflammatory response. On the fourteenth day the inflammatory reaction of Vinyl was minimal, chromic gut was moderate, and Dexon was severe. Black silk control groups demonstrated the most severe levels of inflammation of all sutures tested from day fourteen to twenty-eight. 2. On the fourteenth day all absorbable suture materials demonstrated similar minimal levels of resorption. At twenty-eight days Vicryl demonstrated a greater amount of resorption than Dexon or cromic gut suture. There was no resorption noted in the black silk control groups through day twenty-eight. 3. Due to its decreased level of inflammatory response in the animal model, Vicryl might be expected to as a decreased level of response in humans. It is felt that Vicryl is preferred to Dexon or chromic gut for extraoral suturing.