For decades, people with darker skin tones had no choice but to accept prosthetics that didn’t match their natural color. That changed when John Amanam, a Nigerian special effects artist, decided to use his talents to solve a problem the medical industry had long ignored.
🎭 From Art to Medical Innovation
Amanam, a trained sculptor and special effects artist, never expected to work in the medical field. But when his brother lost part of his hand in an accident, the family’s search for a realistic prosthetic revealed a harsh truth— the medical industry wasn’t serving people with darker skin tones.
Instead of accepting this lack of inclusivity, Amanam decided to use his artistic expertise to create something better.
🏗️ Breaking New Ground in Prosthetics
Amanam pioneered hyper-realistic prosthetics for dark skin tones, introducing innovations such as:
- Visible veins and nail details for lifelike realism
- Custom-crafted prosthetics ranging from fingers to ears, noses, and full limbs
- Precision color matching to replicate diverse shades of dark skin
Despite skepticism from medical professionals, he spent over a year perfecting his techniques. Today, his company, Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd, serves clients in more than 60 countries.
🔬 From Passion Project to Global Business
Amanam’s transition from special effects to prosthetic design was anything but easy.
A Personal Catalyst for Change
- When Amanam’s brother received a prosthetic from abroad, it didn’t match his skin tone, highlighting a major gap in the market.
- Amanam thought: “Since I sculpt human figures, why can’t I mold something that can actually be used on a human body?”
Self-Taught Breakthroughs
With no formal training in prosthetics, Amanam taught himself everything:
- He researched prosthetics design and experimented in his studio for over a year.
- After numerous trial-and-error attempts, he successfully produced a realistic prosthetic hand for his brother.
The Turning Point
- A single Facebook post showcasing his work went viral, with requests pouring in from across Nigeria and beyond.
- Within two years, Amanam founded Immortal Cosmetic Art, becoming the first African sculptor to specialize in hyper-realistic prostheses.
🚧 Challenges in Creating Dark Skin Prosthetics
1. Industry Skepticism
- Some doctors dismissed his expertise, claiming he wasn’t qualified to create medical-grade prosthetics.
- One doctor even asked him to leave his office when he sought guidance on making artificial limbs.
2. Technical Complexity
- Amanam describes Black skin as “the most complex” to replicate due to its undertones and texture variations.
3. Cost and Accessibility Issues
- His prosthetics start at $430, making affordability a challenge for many patients.
- Importing materials raises costs, limiting access to his work for those in rural areas.
4. High Demand, Limited Production
- Amanam has struggled to keep up with demand, leading to temporary production pauses.
- His company now serves clients from over 60 countries, but expansion remains a challenge.
🌍 Impact on Representation in Medical Devices
Amanam’s work goes beyond aesthetics—his prosthetics restore dignity and confidence to Black amputees who previously had to settle for devices that clearly didn’t match their skin.
His innovations have:
- Pushed for greater diversity in medical devices
- Raised awareness about inclusivity in prosthetics manufacturing
- Inspired more representation-focused solutions in healthcare
What other areas of medical innovation do you think need more inclusivity and representation? Amanam’s story proves that real change starts when one person dares to challenge the status quo.