Not to be confused with the Makeup Department (which handles all the essentials, from lipstick to concealer), the Special Effects Makeup Department is in charge of anything out of the ordinary, from stab wounds to molten-Snickers-bar-in-the-face burns. So what's the secret behind the gory magic? Prosthetics.

DID YOU KNOW? A prosthetic is a specialized piece of plastic designed to conform to an actor's skin and resemble a real-life wound. To make one, makeup artists begin by collaborating with medical technicians to research the specific type of injury they need to depict. For example, if a script calls for a character to have wounds caused by penguin bites, the artists and technicians will refer to medical books with photos and descriptions of actual penguin bites. The makeup artists then create a mold to resemble the injury -- in this case, swollen bumps and skin lacerations. Then they pour silicone into the mold and wait for it to dry. Ta-da! A penguin bite prosthetic is born. Next, it's applied to the actor's skin (using a medical-grade adhesive), carefully painted to match the actor's skin, and then painted a second time to resemble the specific injury.

FUN FACT: The blood used to paint on wounds goes by many different names, including "reel blood," "theatrical blood," "movie blood," and plain ol' "artificial blood."

But the Special Effects Makeup Department isn't limited to blood and gore. In fact, they handle details you might not even realize are fake. Take tattoos, for example...

SNEAK PEEK: In an upcoming episode of Mercy, a storyline requires certain characters to don specialized tattoos. To create this effect, our makeup artists created individual designs and printed them on special, sticker-like paper -- similar to, but more resilient than, those fun fake tattoos from childhood. The different paper tattoos were then applied to each actor's skin and pressed with water and alcohol. This technique creates realistic-looking tattoos that last for several days and even hold up against water and sweat. And when touch-ups were needed on set, our makeup artists applied a special dry paint directly onto the skin.

Do those look real or what?!

Alright, that concludes our behind-the-scenes exclusive with the Special Effects Makeup Department. Thanks for stopping by! And remember -- if you have a question, feel free to ask it in the "Comments" section below!

I am looking for the black jacket/sweatshirt Veronica wears every once in awhile, with the large cowl neck collar. It's adorable, and I can't find it anywhere! Did you make it just for the show, or can you buy it somewhere?

Well, LG, our genius wardrobe department worked a little of their magic on this one. If you're on the crafty side, you could make one for yourself. Here's how: Purchase a 100% cotton hoodie and wash it with Oxy Clean (which distresses it). Fold the hood into a horseshoe shape and sew it down. Amy, our Costume Designer, also suggests buying a wider zipper and swapping it out for the original one. And there you go! Sweatshirt a la Veronica.

Have a question? Post it in the Comments section and we'll do our best to answer it!

Before each episode shoots, the Prop Master reads through the script very carefully, making note of each and every prop that will be needed. This includes everything from a state-of-the-art piece of medical equipment Briggs is using, to a candy bar Chloe buys in the break room. Once the props are in order, the producers have a props "show-and-tell" meeting where they approve each prop for filming.

INSIDE SCOOP: Often, multiple copies of the same prop are needed. For example, if the script calls for a character to pop a red balloon, multiple red balloons will be needed, so that the balloon can be popped in every take.

HOW'D THEY DO THAT? How do we show a patient being injected with a needle? They're fake needles that move backwards into the body of the syringe when force is applied. And the tip of the needle? Dull. Super dull.

You couldn't break the skin if you tried. See?

Another fancy medical prop we like to use here on Mercy is the scalpel. They look so real on screen, cutting through the skin, all that instantaneous blood. Well, just like the aforementioned needle, the scalpel blade is verrrry dull. It also has a tube hidden on the back that holds fake blood which is squeezed out by the actor doctor making the incision.

In order to make it look as though the skin is really being cut, we do different takes on fake skin that is already cut open. We then send all those takes off to our editors in Post Production, and they put together a graphic scene where the audience sees someone being cut open!

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW: An object is determined a "prop" when a principal actor touches it and it becomes part of the scene. Let's take a watch for instance. Sounds like that could be considered a part of Wardrobe. But if the actor touches the watch, it becomes a part of the Props Department. Now let's take a shoe. Veronica is walking down the street to meet the gang at Delaney's. So her shoes would be part of Wardrobe. But all of a sudden, Veronica breaks her heel, gets frustrated, takes the shoe off and throws it. Now it's a prop!

We hope you enjoyed this sneak peek! As you can see, the Props Department is a vital -- and very cool -- part of our production. Come back soon for more behind-the-scenes Mercy exclusives!

Half department store, half Santa's Workshop, the costume department is always abuzz with activity, from designing and tailoring to ironing and accessorizing. It all starts with the Costume Designer, who reads each new script and breaks it down by character, figuring out how many outfits they'll need and what they'd most likely be wearing in each scene.

DID YOU KNOW? The Costume Designer creates "tear sheets" for each character's wardrobe. Tear sheets are collections of visual images, colors or symbols that serve as a source of inspiration and ideas.

Next, the Costume Designer collaborates with the rest of the production team -- including the writers, the producers, the director, the production designer, the hair and makeup department, and the actors -- in order to further conceptualize each character's wardrobe. Once this is done, members of the costume department scour stores all over New Jersey and New York, as well as online. After gathering multiple pieces of clothing and accessories, they arrange a fitting with each actor.

FUN FACT: With guest stars, measurements are given ahead of time and the process is somewhat trial and error. But when it comes to our regular cast members, the costume department has a strong sense of each character's specific look.

During the fitting, actors try on clothing and talk through their scenes with the costume designer. Afterward, the clothes are prepped, tailored if necessary, and carefully organized. Costume department team members place a character's entire "look" into a garment bag and label it with the character's name and the scenes it's needed for. The "look" includes all clothing, jewelry, undergarments, shoes, and accessories. Then the bags are whisked off to each actor's trailer, where they'll be ready and waiting when it comes time to call "Action!"

INSIDE SCOOP: When the cameras stop rolling, everything is organized again and stashed away for potential future use.

There you have it - the Mercy costume department in a nutshell! Stay tuned for more exclusive photos and interviews as we continue to take you behind the scenes here at Mercy!

Writers: Each episode of Mercy starts with our writers, who, as you might guess, pen our brilliant scripts.
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW: While filming takes place in New Jersey, the writing staff is based in Los Angeles.

Technical Advisors: A team of doctors and nurses guides us both in the writers' room and on set. They help us shape stories, make sure we use the right medical lingo AND pronounce everything correctly, and ensure that what's happening in a scene adheres to real-life hospital protocol.

Props: Our props department reads each script verrrry carefully and makes sure that every prop listed in the script appears on screen. This could be anything from the large and technical (for example, a defibrillator or pulse ox machine) to the everyday smaller items (such as Chloe's iPod or a bag of potato chips).

Art Department: These guys and gals are in charge of building every set and making it look real and lived in. They paint the walls, arrange beds for a hospital scene... they even stock the bar at Delaney's!
INSIDE SCOOP: Ever noticed how the elevators at Mercy Hospital open and shut with perfect timing? That's because off-screen set dressers are manually moving the doors!

Craft Services: Then of course there's everyone's favorite department, craft services (a.k.a. catering)! We work long days at Mercy--often 12 hours or longer--and this group makes sure everyone has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and plenty of snacks in between. YUM.

Want to know more about the making of a hit TV show? Feel free to ask your questions in the comments section, and come back for weekly updates, department profiles, set photos, and more behind-the-scenes exclusives!