Anaplastology & Silicone Prostheses

Losing part of the face or body to cancer surgery, injury or a condition present from birth affects far more than appearance. It can change how a person eats, speaks, works and meets people. Anaplastology is the field that creates life-like replacements for these parts.

What is a silicone prosthesis?

A prosthesis is an artificial substitute for a missing or disfigured part of the body. In anaplastology, each prosthesis is custom-made for one person, usually from medical-grade silicone that is coloured to match their skin. Eye prostheses that sit in the socket are usually made from acrylic.

Types of prostheses

• Auricular (ear) prostheses
• Nasal prostheses
• Orbital and ocular (eye-region) prostheses
• Finger and partial-hand prostheses
• Breast prostheses
• Other facial and body parts on specialist referral

How it fits with medical care

Prosthetic rehabilitation is planned together with the treating surgeon or specialist, who decides when the area has healed and whether a prosthesis is suitable. Depending on the case, the prosthesis may be held in place by medical adhesive, by the shape of the area, or by implant-based retention planned and placed by the clinical team.

What the process looks like

1. Referral and assessment with the treating specialist.
2. Impression or scan to capture the exact shape.
3. Sculpting a model that matches the person’s anatomy.
4. Colour matching of the silicone to the person’s skin.
5. Fitting and guidance on wearing, cleaning and storage.

Skill development project

Our anaplastology lab is also a skill development project — helping more professionals learn this specialised craft, so that more people in India can access it.

For doctors and hospitals

Surgeons, oncologists, ENT and maxillofacial teams can contact us to discuss referral and coordination for their patients.

Read our plain-language guide: What is anaplastology?