A plain-language guide to custom silicone finger prostheses: what they are, what they're made of, and what they can and can't do.
A silicone finger prosthesis is a custom-made replacement for a finger, or part of a finger, that has been lost through injury, surgery or a medical condition. Unlike an off-the-shelf cover, it is individually sculpted to your hand and matched to your own skin tone, freckles and nail detail, so it reads as part of you rather than as an obvious add-on.
Medical-grade silicone is used because it is soft, durable and skin-like. It can be worn comfortably day to day, holds colour well, and can be finished with the fine surface detail (texture, nail, subtle shading) that makes a prosthesis convincing in normal light.
For most finger loss the primary benefit is appearance and the confidence that comes with it. Depending on how much of the finger remains, a prosthesis can also help with light function, such as stabilising objects, and can protect a sensitive residual finger.
A silicone finger is not something you buy directly. A registered clinician (a hand therapist, occupational therapist or doctor) measures your hand, matches the colour, and fits the finished device. BioDigit makes the prosthesis and supplies these clinicians; you work with one of them.
