One of the longest-running shows in television history, Grey’s Anatomy, has captured the hearts of fans for years. At its core, it’s a show about doctors, so a little bit of gore is to be expected beneath all the juicy drama.
To keep things as realistic as possible, especially during the intense surgery scenes, the creators goes all out. The secret? They use cow organs and chicken fats to recreate the look and feel. Here’s how they do it!
How Grey’s Anatomy Keeps Its Surgery Scenes “Authentic”!
Grey’s Anatomy may not aim to perfectly depict the realities of surgery or life as a doctor, it is, after all, a drama built for entertainment. But for the surgery scenes, the show doesn’t hold back.
Actor Sarah Drew, who played Dr. April Kepner, once shared some behind-the-scenes secrets, offering a vivid glimpse into just how lifelike those surgical moments really were. Once while speaking to Miami Herald (via RTE), she revealed,
We work with Bovine organs, which is cow’s organs. The smell is repulsive and makes us all gag. And we use an actual soldering tool to solder the organs. It smells like burning flesh. There’s also a lot of silicone and blood matter – red jello [jelly] mixed with blood and chicken fat. It’s pretty gross
To make those surgery scenes look just right, the show gets creative, using cow organs, silicone, fake blood, and even chicken fat to nail the authentic vibe.
The result? Some of the most intense and memorable moments in the drama. Knowing this behind-the-scenes tricks now definitely adds a fun twist to watching those high-stakes operating room scenes!
How Real Is Grey’s Anatomy?
While Grey’s Anatomy impresses with its lifelike surgery scenes, it’s clear that when it comes to medical realism, the show leans heavily into drama over accuracy. Sure, some executive producers are real-life doctors, helping craft the medical aspects of the plot, but even then, it is pretty far away from what happens in real life.
For starters, the scenarios are often wildly improbable. From interns and doctors having soap-opera-worthy personal drama, often hooking up in hospital rooms, no less, to the far-fetched medical emergencies that seem to happen every episode, experts and fans both agree, it’s a stretch.
That said, Grey’s Anatomy was never about being a documentary. The show prioritizes compelling storytelling, which often requires creative liberties. While it may not always stick strictly to medical realism, it’s the dramatic twists, complex relationships, and intense storylines that have captivated its audience throughout its 21 seasons and are more likely to come in the future.
Grey’s Anatomy is streaming on Hulu.
