Prosthetic technology has come a long way. What inclusive aesthetics are available for Black patients?
Disabilities and amputations can happen at any age or life stage. There are a myriad of reasons: accidents, birth defects, or diseases like diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD) could lead to amputations. These situations may make prosthetics urgent and necessary, but researching options can be overwhelming.
Individuals requiring prosthetics already face the challenge of finding a good fit in form and function. In addition, the potential financial burden can weigh heavily in the decision-making. For Black patients, finding prosthetics that match their skin tone and build can be a further challenge. However, the industry is shifting, as more companies offer diverse color and size needs. Nevertheless, patient advocacy for inclusive prosthetics remains ever-pertinent.
In the United States, research shows that Black patients are more likely to receive amputations than their white counterparts. This increased likelihood is especially apparent in how medical teams treat diseases like PAD or diabetes, of which Black individuals and people of color already face a higher risk.
Yet, there is also a racial disparity between white and Black individuals who need prosthetics. Black individuals are less satisfied with their prosthetics and face a greater emotional and financial burden of disability. In response, companies in the biomedical market are gradually shifting their approach to prosthetic care by developing more customized products.
“Historically, lifelike prosthetics were often treated as the default, sometimes without meaningful input from the user,” says Owen Kent, co-founder and chief marketing officer of ATDev, an assistive rehabilitation technology company. Kent is a lifelong power wheelchair user and disability rights advocate, who served as Executive Director of The Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, one of the nation’s first disability rights organizations. Aesthetics have evolved dramatically, shifting from prescribed to user-driven. “Today, people can choose from highly realistic silicone covers matched to a wide range of skin tones and textures, or embrace exposed mechanical designs, bold colors, patterns, and even artistic finishes.”
Regardless of what aesthetic people choose, whether it’s technological, artistic, or designed to blend in, selection should be collaborative. “What matters is agency,” notes Kent.
Today, there is a range of customizable aesthetic options. “The rise of modular shells, interchangeable covers, and custom fabrication has made it easier for prosthetics to reflect diverse body types and self-expression rather than forcing everyone into a narrow aesthetic standard,” says Kent.
For Black patients, this means more prosthetic options that match their skin tone and physical build. John Amanam, Nigerian co-founder of Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd, is one such leader in this field. His company creates hyper-realistic flesh covers for prosthetics. He insists that the company is open to all and that they have addressed diverse client needs, like ears, hands, fingers, feet, and more. Amanam partners with companies that develop prosthetic frames, and Immortal makes skin coverings that best fit the frames and the user.
“Our prosthetics are very real,” says Amanam, “We try to match at least 85 percent to their natural tone, which makes our work stand out.” Skin tone isn’t the only reason Amanam’s work is internationally renowned. “Capturing a high level of detail—nails, veins, texture of the skin, tone of the skin—all of those natural attributes are unique to our processes,” he says.
The company makes flesh covers for any skin tone, but most clients identify as Black. Clients from all over the world turn to Amanam, and to maintain the quality of their work, they’ve increased the production timeframe to three months. “We have hundreds of people reaching out almost every day,” he notes. In some cases, people fly to Nigeria to make sure that they get exactly what they want, as he says that many people come to him after having had poor experiences elsewhere.
“Prosthetics today span a wide spectrum, from highly mechanical, body-powered devices to advanced myoelectric and microprocessor-controlled systems,” Kent says. There are activity-specific devices optimized for tasks such as running or cycling, and powered prostheses that use sensors, motors, and software to assist movement.
Amanam founded his company with his brother, who had lost a finger. Together, they tested the hyperrealistic capabilities and have grown the company to be a global leader in this space. After working on a project to develop Africa’s first hyperrealistic robot, the duo is currently developing bionic products that would control movement with brain waves.
Ultimately, the goal is that prosthetics align with the person’s everyday life, goals, environment, and long-term health, while providing comfort and confidence.
For Black patients, finding the right prosthetic means working with the right prosthetist to express concerns and have needs met. This can be a lifelong dialogue built on trust and honesty.
“Key considerations include comfort, durability, maintenance requirements, access to clinical support, insurance coverage, and how intuitive the device feels to use,” says Kent.
Age and lifestyle will also affect the type of prosthetic. “For children, growth necessitates regular replacement or resizing, which can be costly and disruptive,” says Kent. “For adults, changes in body composition, activity level, health, and goals still mean periodic updates.”
Cost is an important factor. Functional elements may be covered by insurance, but aesthetic adjustments may not be. Although every product is custom-scoped and quoted, Amanam’s prosthetic flesh coverings range from $300 to $15,000, depending on complexity. Some clients also think it’s worth the travel cost to come to Nigeria to ensure a precise fit and skin-tone match for the best prosthetic outcome. “Most clients say they want to come and have that one-on-one experience to share their challenges,” says Amanam.
“The best outcomes tend to happen when users, clinicians, prosthetists, and engineers are all involved in the decision-making process, with lived experience guiding technical choices rather than the other way around,” says Kent.
Especially for Black patients who may have had professionals previously ignore their complaints or impose designs, prosthetics aren’t just about aesthetics. They also restore human dignity.
“If [a client] says that one leg is higher than the other, we can sit as a team and brainstorm, ‘what do we add? What is the challenge? What would make this particular design different from the others they’ve had before? What is their key target?” Amanam says. “We take our time to listen.”
Inclusive prosthetic options exist. While more options are becoming available, there’s still room for improvement in accessibility. “The future of prosthetics is not about static devices, but about adaptable platforms that support people across different stages of life while minimizing unnecessary replacement and disruption,” Kent says.
Patients should advocate for what’s right for them, ask questions, and push for customization that reflects their authentic identity. To support them, doctors should research a wide range of options to meet patients’ needs and actively listen to ongoing concerns—together, they can advocate for technology-driven improvements that correspond to lived experience and improve quality of life.
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