With prosthetics and amputees taking on a greater presence in the media, many amputees are feeling more comfortable in the public eye. With this sense of comfort, some prosthetic users are even rethinking the objective of ‘fitting in’, opting to make their prosthetic devices stand out even more. Manufacturers and prosthetic facilities are following suit by offering amputees more choices in cosmetic finishing.
Exposed Components
Many amputees prefer to use prosthetic devices without realistic cosmetic finishing. This is more common with lower extremity prostheses. Here, the mechanical inner components of a
prosthesis will be exposed. There is a more practical reason to do this, being that a
prosthetist will have easier access to the mechanical components for adjustments, or to switch out components. The downside is that the components are exposed to the elements and some prosthetic parts can cause minor damage to furniture.
Prosthetic Tattoos
Fake tattoos can be incorporated into custom spray skins in a number of ways. A custom spray skin is applied over a custom foam cover for a below knee or above knee
prosthesis. This spray skin is a type of liquid rubber-like material that is sprayed onto a prosthetic foam cover using an airbrush gun. A tattoo design printed on a transparency can be adhered between layers of spray skin. This works particularly well with
silicone skins. Another option is to have the artist paint the tattoo directly onto the prosthetic skin. The artist must take care to use materials that will not conflict with the spray skin.
Colorful Sleeves
Decorative suspension sleeves can be used with
upper extremity and below the knee prosthetic deigns. These sleeves are worn on the outside of the
prosthesis, at the transition line (at the knee for below the knee amputees or at the elbow for below the elbow amputees).
Design Lamination
Many prosthetic sockets (both upper and lower extremity) include a rigid outer frame composed of
carbon fiber material. Typically, this material is tinted to somewhat match the prosthetic user’s own skin tone. This material can actually be tinted any color. Photographs, stickers, or other designs can also be laminated into the carbon lamination layers.
Custom Spray Skins
Custom spray skins are usually fabricated to match the user’s
contralateral (sound
limb) as closely as possible. However, like the
carbon fiber lamination, custom spray skins can be made in any color.