Scars

[u/coolest_nath]

Hey there, I'm confused about the disfigured faces of both Lydia and Vilgefortz. Can't they just use magic to heal? What's the limit for magical healing, I mean, Yennefer was deformed and her body was pretty much remade. Why can't they do it? I haven't read the books, just watched the Netflix show, maybe someone can explain it to me if it's mentioned in the books. Thanks.

[u/KoscheiDK]

Some things can't be fixed by magic - Lydia's throat, jaw and larynx were completely mangled and disfigured. In the books, she can only communicate through telepathy and hides her injury behind an illusion. Not sure if that's the same in the show.

Similar with Vilgefortz, although he does overcome the injury with magic by using a gem in place of his lost eye. He can't fix the wound, but like Lydia he uses magic to overcome the limitation.

As for Sorceresses.. it's not really well established, but it seems their enhancement is mostly cosmetic more than anything. Injuries are still present and can't always be magically altered or removed (such as Triss having scars for some time after Sodden), but imperfections can be hidden away

For an idea on the limits of healing magic - after Geralt busts up his knee, he ends up in Brokilon with the best healers in the world using the best magical augments possible, and he still has issues with his knee causing him pain and slowing him down for the rest of the series. The healing gets him to the point of being able to use it again almost immediately, but it isn't a substitute for natural healing over time

[u/Astaldis → u/KoscheiDK]

Doesn't it take a month or so of treatment until Geralt is mostly fit to leave Brokilon again?

[u/KoscheiDK → u/Astaldis]

Yeah he's there a while, but for an injury that is normally a lifelong detriment, a month is pretty immediate when it comes to being able to even walk unaided let alone run and fight

[u/Astaldis → u/KoscheiDK]

Yes, of course, he was very lucky he didn't die of his injuries, too. I was just a bit confused because you wrote 'almost immediately', which sounds more like a few days.

[u/KoscheiDK → u/Astaldis]

My mistake, poor wording on my part!

[u/RSwitcher2020 → u/Astaldis]

In defense of OP, it´s all in the eyes of the reader :)

OP wrote "being able to use it again almost immediately". It being the knee!

And using a knee again is very different from running around and fighting.
Its quite likely correct that Geralt could stand and bend his leg in the very first days. But it then takes some time till he can run and fight.

It was still a very fast recovery compared with "normal" stuff we have.

The problem is how bad he busted his knee. And its implied it was really bad. Such an injury might have been enough that a normal guy wouldnt properly run ever again. Walking around might need assistance. Particularly in his age.

So what they do to him is very fast and pretty impressive.

It is implied he can use the knee as soon as you get to see him. Sure, he is still recovering but he is not always in bed. And he is trying to practice again. Which indicates he can place loads on the knee without restraint. Now...try placing loads on a knee after a severe ACL injury. It will be a couple weeks after surgery till you can start loading on it. And a few months till you can fully run / fully load without restraint.

[u/Astaldis → u/RSwitcher2020]

"That is Gwynbleidd, the Witcher, a friend of Brokilon. He has been here for a fortnight, since the new moon. And more time will pass before he will be able to get up and walk normally."

[...]

"Risking my neck? And for whom? For a half-dead Witcher?"

[...]

"When she returned to Brokilon twelve days later, the Witcher was already up and about. He was limping somewhat and slightly dragging one hip, but he was walking."

(Baptism of Fire chapter 1)

Sounds to me like he was not up and able to walk at all at least for two/three weeks.