Can you write, or play golf, wearing a natural-looking finger prosthesis?
Some of our customers wear a well-fitted custom silicone finger prosthesis while writing or playing golf. What matters most is a fit that does not slip off with everyday movement, and a shape and skin tone copied from your other hand. A silicone finger prosthesis does not bend on its own, and which movements feel comfortable depends on the length and shape of your affected area.
When your hands are on show, a secure fit comes before anything else
Holding a pen, shaking hands, passing over a business card — these are all moments when other people see your hands. If a prosthesis shifts or slips off, you will want to hide your hand however natural it looks.
A Silobionic silicone finger prosthesis is cast to the shape of your affected area and held on by vacuum suction, pressing the air out as it goes on. The edge where the prosthesis ends (the trim line) is made thin so the join is less visible. We aim for a fit that does not slip off easily with everyday movement, though how firmly it holds depends on the length and shape of your affected area.
One customer’s experience
This customer lost a finger in an accident and has worn a Silobionic prosthesis for several years, coming back to us for remakes along the way. Our customer works in sales, meets many people every day and enjoys sports such as golf.
We were told that a previous prosthesis often came off, leading to awkward moments in front of people. Now slipping is far less of a worry and work feels much easier, and when writing or playing golf, people rarely realise it is a prosthesis unless it is mentioned. This is one customer’s experience, and results vary from person to person.
What do we match to make it look natural?
- Shape — we cast your other hand and shape the prosthesis from it. For this customer, the right-hand finger was modelled on the left hand.
- Skin tone — an E-SKIN scanner (SPECTROMATCH, UK) measures your skin tone digitally, and we mix pigments to match.
- Nail — we take a mould of the matching nail and make it with our patented nail-making method.
What to check for everyday tasks
| Task | What to check in your consultation |
|---|---|
| Writing | Whether it stays put when you hold a pen, and whether gripping with your remaining fingers feels comfortable |
| Handshakes and business cards | Skin tone, nail and edge as seen up close |
| Golf and other sports | Whether it stays on as you grip and swing, and how it holds when you sweat |
| Washing up and hand-washing | How often it gets wet (medical-grade silicone is not damaged by water) |
A silicone finger prosthesis does not bend on its own. If grip matters more to you, ask us about the 3D titanium functional finger for complete finger loss, made by Point Designs (USA), for which Silobionic is the exclusive partner in Korea.
What you can do at a consultation
At an in-person consultation you can see and handle samples for different parts of the hand. Tell us about your work, the sports you enjoy and the moments when you are most aware of your hand, and we will advise on how the prosthesis is worn and cared for. Visits are by appointment.
The standard process is three visits, about 4–6 weeks from consultation to delivery (1–2 weeks with express production); fabrication of a finger prosthesis itself takes 7–10 days. If you are travelling from abroad, send us photos in advance and we will plan your visits with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hold a pen with a finger prosthesis?
A silicone finger prosthesis does not bend on its own, but a secure fit can help you hold a pen together with your remaining fingers. How comfortable it feels depends on your affected area.
Will it come off when I play sport?
Vacuum suction is designed to keep it from slipping off with everyday movement. The sport, sweat and the shape of your affected area all make a difference, so we check this with you.
Will people be able to tell it is a prosthesis?
We shape it from your other hand and match the skin tone and nail, aiming for a finger that is difficult to tell apart from your own. Results vary from person to person.
What if I need the finger to bend?
If the finger has been completely lost, ask us about the semi-automatic 3D titanium functional finger by Point Designs (USA).
