Supporting someone considering a prosthesis

When someone you care about loses a finger, you want to help, and looking into the options is a real and useful way to do that. This page is for you: the person beside them, not the patient. It covers how to support their decision, what the journey looks like, and how to be helpful without taking over.

Let it be their choice

The most important thing first: whether to have a prosthesis is a deeply personal decision, and it belongs to the person themselves. Some people very much want to restore the appearance of their hand; others adapt and feel no need to. Both are completely valid. The kindest support is to help them explore the options and then back whatever they decide, rather than steering them toward what you would choose.

What you can helpfully do

• Gather information, gently. Researching options, costs and the process (as you're doing now) takes a load off them. Share what you find without pressure.
• Help with the practical side. Funding enquiries, appointments and logistics are easier with a hand. Our help with costs guide is a good starting point.
• Come along, if they'd like. A supportive person at a consultation can help them feel at ease and remember what was discussed, if they want you there.
• Listen more than you advise. Sometimes the most valuable thing is simply hearing how they feel about it, without rushing to fix anything.

What's worth understanding

Knowing the basics helps you have useful conversations. A custom silicone finger restores the appearance of the hand, and can offer light function and protection; it does not restore the full movement and sensation of the natural finger. It's made and fitted by a registered clinician, not bought directly. And it's a personal, often emotional step as much as a practical one. Our patient guide and FAQs explain the rest in plain terms.

If you're supporting a child

If the person is a child, whether after an injury or born with a finger difference, the decision sits with the family and, as they grow, increasingly with the child themselves. There's no rush, and no "should." A prosthesis is a personal choice, never a necessity, and a clinician experienced with children can advise sensitively on timing and what's right, with the child's wellbeing first.

Looking after yourself too

Supporting someone through any kind of loss can be quietly demanding. It's okay to find it hard, and to need support yourself. Being steady and present matters more than having all the answers, and you don't have to carry it alone.