Introduction: In our study, we present a direct staining method of epitenon fibroblasts with the dye Dil (1,1΄- dioctadecyl -3,3,3΄,3΄-tetramethylindocarbocyanine percholate) using an animal model, and furthermore we observe the migration of these cells. Our methodology tries to imitate what actually happens in clinical practice, as far as possible. Material and methods: In 36 New Zealand rabbits, the flexor digitorum profundus tendon of right anterior leg was pulled out of its sheath, incised and sutured with modified Kessler. The tendon was stained with the dye Dil and placed back to its sheath, where it was fixed distally. Tendon specimens were taken from 6 rabbits and examined under fluorescence microscopy at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days postoperatively. In order to evaluate our results, the fibroblasts' migration was divided into 4 phases: first phase, all the stained cells are on the tendon surface; second phase, there is only sporadic migration of fibroblasts under the tendon surface; third phase, there is massive migration of cells below the tendon surface; fourth phase, the cells are deeper into the tendon substance. Results: The majority of epitenon's fibroblasts in the first 24 hours were found to be in the first phase (all stained cells were at the tendon's surface and only some cell clusters were found to be in the second phase). On the 3 rd day, the majority was found to be in the third phase (massive migration under tendon's surface), and on the 5 th day