How big would the scar be?

Ambri · Nov 29, 2010

My heroine gets shot--by a pistol, circa 1817. It's night, and both she and the shooter are on horseback, so the bullet only grazes her side/ waist. I have it set up so she can douse it with some alcohol and wrap it tightly with a cloth bandage. However, as I was rewriting a love scene between the hero/heroine, I realized that the hero might see the healing scar, which would lead to some lovely complications in the plot. However, I'm not quite sure how large or noticeable the scar would be. Given the details I've provided, would the scar be a short, pinkish (still healing) slash across her waist? Something else? Oh, and are my details above, about her being able to treat the wound, herself, and not have to get stitches, plausible?

Thanks!

ETA:

You didn't say how long between the shooting and the love scene.

Oops. A little relevant. Uh . . . 3 weeks to a month between shooting and love scene. I would think enough time that it's mostly healed over, but still a little pink. Would that take more like two months? Sorry, I know very little about medical issues, other than how to bandage up preschoolers with skinned knees and such.

Drachen Jager · Nov 29, 2010

You didn't say how long between the shooting and the love scene.

Stitches would depend on how deep the wound was. It really depends. Probably they'd be a good idea.

LBlankenship · Nov 29, 2010

>I have it set up so she can douse it with some alcohol

Unless it's high-proof vodka, not such a good idea. There's still plenty of sugar in bourbon/whiskey/rum, and bacteria like sugar. Wine is right out.

Soap and hot water.

Williebee · Nov 29, 2010

Ambri,

Based on the info given, as large or small as you want it to be. Ditto on the alcohol info.

Wayne K · Nov 29, 2010

I had a cellmate that was shot seven times. The bullet wound scars weren't all that big, but there were surgery scars on either side (long ones) so from the neck down, dude looked like Frankenstein.

That was in the 80s. I'm sure they've gotten better since then

Drachen Jager · Nov 29, 2010

carlaviii said:
>I have it set up so she can douse it with some alcohol

Unless it's high-proof vodka, not such a good idea. There's still plenty of sugar in bourbon/whiskey/rum, and bacteria like sugar. Wine is right out.

Soap and hot water.

Bacteria can't eat sugar if they're dead. Any concentration above 20-30% is effective, although interestingly the effectiveness goes down after you reach 70%. Wine will work better than nothing at all (yes better than soap and water), but it's not ideal.

Stanmiller · Nov 29, 2010

Ambri said:
My heroine gets shot--by a pistol, circa 1817. It's night, and both she and the shooter are on horseback, so the bullet only grazes her side/ waist. I have it set up so she can douse it with some alcohol and wrap it tightly with a cloth bandage. However, as I was rewriting a love scene between the hero/heroine, I realized that the hero might see the healing scar, which would lead to some lovely complications in the plot. However, I'm not quite sure how large or noticeable the scar would be. Given the details I've provided, would the scar be a short, pinkish (still healing) slash across her waist? Something else? Oh, and are my details above, about her being able to treat the wound, herself, and not have to get stitches, plausible?

Thanks!

ETA:

Oops. A little relevant. Uh . . . 3 weeks to a month between shooting and love scene. I would think enough time that it's mostly healed over, but still a little pink. Would that take more like two months? Sorry, I know very little about medical issues, other than how to bandage up preschoolers with skinned knees and such.

You might want to PM an AWer named Chase. He's the only one I know that can speak first-hand about bullet wounds and healing times, having been there and done that, so to speak.
Stan

LBlankenship · Nov 30, 2010

Drachen Jager said:
Bacteria can't eat sugar if they're dead. Any concentration above 20-30% is effective, although interestingly the effectiveness goes down after you reach 70%. Wine will work better than nothing at all (yes better than soap and water), but it's not ideal.

...and when the booze dries on the wound, only the sugar is left.

GradyHendrix · Nov 30, 2010

Just a quick note to say that with bullet wounds, it's often the bruising that takes forever to heal and is quite extensive, too. Even a graze from a pistol would look like a heavyweight boxer has just punched her in the side. By three weeks they'll probably be mostly healed but it's something to keep in mind.

Ambri · Nov 30, 2010

So, it sounds like I could have a little faded bruising, and some pinkness to show that it's a fresh scar, and not something she's had since she was little or anything. Thanks.

How big would the scar be?

Ambri

Plotting something

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

LBlankenship

VPXV 4EVA

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

Wayne K

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

Stanmiller

LBlankenship

VPXV 4EVA

GradyHendrix

New kid, be gentle!

Ambri

Plotting something