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Short answer: the manufacturer-stated absorption of Vicryl (polyglactin 910) suture is essentially complete between 56 and 70 days. Strength is lost much earlier: the FDA record for Coated VICRYL Plus Antibacterial gives about 75% of breaking strength remaining at 14 days, 50% at 21 days and 25% at 28 days.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice. It is written for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to read a suture listing correctly: which number is strength, which is absorption, and which product line it belongs to. Choosing a suture for a patient is a clinical decision made with the current instructions for use (IFU).
How long does Vicryl take to absorb?
Two sources agree (checked 2026-10-30). The FDA 510(k) summary K132580 for Coated VICRYL Plus Antibacterial (Ethicon, decision 2014-02-28, product code GAM, regulation 21 CFR 878.4493) states: “Absorption is essentially complete between 56 and 70 days.” Ethicon’s own product catalog entries for VICRYL and COATED VICRYL (polyglactin 910) list the absorption rate as “56-70 DAYS”.
The same summary describes the product as a multifilament copolymer of 90% glycolide and 10% L-lactide, coated with a mixture of a glycolide/lactide copolymer (Polyglactin 370) and calcium stearate. The material absorbs by hydrolysis. For what the name polyglactin 910 means and how the device is regulated, see the polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) guide.
How long does a 3-0 Vicryl suture take to absorb completely?
The FDA summary and the Ethicon catalog entries give one absorption figure for the product line, 56 to 70 days, and do not print a separate figure for 3-0 or any other size. For a particular size and product code, the IFU in the package is the document that governs.
Strength remaining at 14, 21 and 28 days
Absorption (the suture mass disappearing) happens after the suture has already lost most of its strength. The FDA summary prints this approximate breaking-strength retention profile in its comparison table, and lists the proposed device’s profile as the same as the predicate’s. It is labelled approximate, so the IFU for the size in hand governs:
| Days after placement | Approximate breaking strength remaining | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 75% | FDA K132580 |
| 21 | 50% | FDA K132580 |
| 28 | 25% | FDA K132580 |
| 56 to 70 | Absorption essentially complete | FDA K132580; Ethicon catalog |
A listing that says “absorption 56-70 days” therefore does not mean the suture holds for that long. Strength retention and absorption are separate figures.
What is Vicryl Rapide?
VICRYL Rapide is a separate polyglactin 910 product line. In FDA 510(k) summary K033746 (Ethicon, decision 2003-12-18) it is described as a sterile, braided synthetic absorbable suture of 90% glycolide and 10% L-lactide, with an inner coating of 90/10 caprolactone/glycolide and an outer coating of Polyglactin 370 and calcium stearate. The FDA summary lists it for superficial soft tissue approximation of the skin and mucosa with short-term wound support of 7 to 10 days, and states it is not intended for ligation, ophthalmic, cardiovascular or neurological procedures.
Do not apply the 14/21/28-day profile or the 56-70 day figure above to Rapide. They are printed for the standard coated line; Rapide’s own figures are in its IFU.
PDS vs Vicryl
They are different materials. Vicryl is polyglactin 910, a braided, coated copolymer. PDS II is Ethicon’s polydioxanone suture, listed with an absorption rate of 182 to 238 days. Maxon (polyglyconate) is listed at 180 days. The details and sources are on the polyglyconate (Maxon) and PDS guide.
Absorption times of other suture materials
Each figure below is the maker’s stated number for its own product, taken from the manufacturer sources named on the linked CASRAI pages. Each figure is the maker’s own number for its product, so compare like with like.
| Material (brand) | Stated absorption | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) | 56 to 70 days | FDA K132580; Ethicon catalog |
| Poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl) | 90 to 120 days (product sheet); 91 to 119 days (Plus catalogue) | Ethicon sheets, see Monocryl suture guide |
| Polyglyconate (Maxon) | 180 days | Medtronic listing, see polyglyconate guide |
| Polydioxanone (PDS II) | 182 to 238 days | Ethicon catalog, see polyglyconate guide |
For gut, see the chromic gut suture guide; for the broader contrast, absorbable vs non-absorbable sutures and what a suture is. Braided absorbable products are listed under braided sutures.
Common mistakes
- Reading “56-70 days” as how long the suture keeps its strength. Strength is about 25% by day 28.
- Applying the standard-line figures to Vicryl Rapide, a separate short-support product (7 to 10 days of wound support in the FDA summary).
- Comparing a figure from one maker’s sheet with another maker’s without checking that both are absorption, not strength retention.
FAQ
How long does Vicryl suture take to absorb?
Essentially complete between 56 and 70 days, per FDA 510(k) K132580 and the Ethicon catalog.
How much strength does Vicryl keep after two weeks?
About 75% at 14 days, falling to about 50% at 21 days and 25% at 28 days.
What is the difference between PDS and Vicryl?
PDS II is polydioxanone (182-238 days listed); Vicryl is polyglactin 910 (56-70 days).
What is Vicryl Rapide?
A short-support polyglactin 910 line for superficial skin and mucosa, with 7 to 10 days of wound support stated in the FDA summary.
Sources
- FDA 510(k) summary K132580, Coated VICRYL Plus Antibacterial, Ethicon, 2014-02-28: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf13/K132580.pdf (checked 2026-10-30).
- FDA 510(k) summary K033746, Modified Coated VICRYL Rapide, Ethicon, 2003-12-18: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/K033746.pdf (checked 2026-10-30).
- Ethicon product catalog entries for VICRYL (v549g) and COATED VICRYL (j16h), https://www.ethicon.com/emea/epc/code/v549g and https://www.ethicon.com/emea/epc/code/j16h?lang=en-gb (checked 2026-10-30).
- Monocryl, Maxon and PDS II figures as stated on the CASRAI guides linked above, which cite Ethicon and Medtronic product listings (checked 2026-10-30).
