3 covers for your prosthetic leg

Expert by experience Cécile  prefers a natural look, which is why she wears a cosmetic cover made of foam over her prosthetic upper leg. A cosmetic cover gives your prosthetic leg the same shape as a human leg and is worn over your prosthesis. The cover is made of foam and is painstakingly modelled after your leg by your O&P professional.

Cosmetic covers often come in multiple skin tones, but because they’re made of foam, they don’t look particularly lifelike. In terms of shape, however, cosmetic covers do resemble a ‘normal’ leg, so if you’re wearing yours under clothes, people might not realise you’re wearing a prosthetic leg at all. Cécile, for example, wears tights over her cover whenever she feels like wearing a skirt. Cosmetic covers are available for prosthetic upper legs and lower legs.

Please note that a cosmetic cover is not the same as an anatomically shaped silicone leg cover. A silicone leg cover is completely custom made and modelled after your other leg, giving it a lifelike appearance including freckles and veins. Every silicone cover is entirely unique and bespoke, made specifically for your prosthetic leg. Want to know more? To find out more about your options, we recommend getting in touch with your O&P professional.

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If you like the look of a high-tech prosthetic leg, a plastic cover may be just what you’re looking for. These plastic covers are compatible with many different advanced prosthetic knee joints and protect the joint against damage, wear and tear. Because these covers are made to fit your prosthesis, your freedom of movement will not be hampered in any way.

Cosmetic covers made of plastic are made to be worn as is, so do not need to wear a foam cover. Plastic covers often create a more high-tech look, but they are, usually, anatomically accurate for a more natural look when worn under clothes. You can sometimes find different versions of plastic covers for each prosthesis and they can often be shortened for an optimal fit.