"I was able to wear shorts for the first time" - meet Soizic.

"When you feel comfortable with your prosthesis, people look at you differently"

A tibial and femoral amputee, Soizic testifies to the significant impact that the possibility of wearing a prosthesis that looks like her has had on her. We talk about how others look at disability, how mentalities are changing, and how important it is to be proud of your difference. 

Hello Soizic. How did you discover U-exist?

I was amputated at the age of 16 in 1993. At that time only foam lining existed for prosthesis, it was not aesthetically pleasing at all, there was no nice pattern. In 2019, when I had to have my denture redone, my ortho-prosthesist told me about U-Exist and I chose the pattern Koi Carpwhich really fit my personality. It was a new experience for me, I was able to wear shorts for the first time. Aesthetically, as I find it very beautiful, it brings another look on the disability. I have the feeling that when you feel comfortable with your prosthesis, people look at you differently. I had a lot more smiles, people were curious to know if I had other prostheses, etc. As a woman, I think it's even more important to be pretty.

Have you had several U-Exist prostheses?

Yes, I had the Koi carp in full, tibial and femoral. Then I had the Sky Pink and now I wear the Black Sea which I really like. The pattern is really all-purpose, you can match it with whatever you want, skirt or shorts.

"I feel more feminine."

What do you get out of it?

I look after children and their feedback is quite funny. When I had the Koi Carp they thought it was a tattoo, so their first instinct was to touch it, then look at it and try to figure out how it's done. They still have a funny look at it. Once at the pool, a little girl told me "she was lucky, because she had her two legs" (laughs). 

But it's true that for me it changed a lot of things, I feel more feminine, I feel I can do more things, wear what I want. I don't ask myself any more questions about wearing this or that garment to hide my prosthesis. The only question I ask myself in the morning is how to match it with my outfit. Even morally, it is so important to feel comfortable. 

I also like the "provocative" side, at least to assume it completely and to show it to people, because we don't meet them every day. With my Koi Carp, I could be seen 10 kilometers away, but that's what I liked. The difference with someone who boxes in pants, is that at least there you don't ask yourself any more questions. It's good to have the choice of aesthetics, I also think of the children who had amputations when they were young, it must be nice for them to have this kind of equipment. 

"You've changed a lot of things."

Do you think there has been a change in the last few years in relation to this?

Yes, you changed a lot of things. There was really a before/after, we won't lie. We went from "ugly" to something really beautiful, which can fit every personality. I've been tattooed for a very long time and I remember when I was younger and they only offered me foam, it would rip off in a week, it was ugly, a pain in the ass... I thought "I can't wait for them to come up with something else that's aesthetically more pleasing." 

In general, I think that there is a real evolution in the relationship with disability. People still look at it for sure, but their looks are different. There are those who find it pretty and who always have a smile, that's true. Afterwards, there are always those who ask questions... but the fact that I assume and that I really show my prosthesis, it is completely different. 

""If I won the lottery I would only buy prosthetics with U-Exist designs"

Is there enough choice in your opinion?

Yes, there are a lot of inspirations, colors, different images in your house. We can also customize. I watch all the new arrivals on your site like a shoe store. As I often say to my girlfriends, if I won the lottery I would only buy prostheses with U-Exist designs. You are doing a great job and I think that it puts a smile on the face of many people, parents, children, adults...

My father has been an amputee for only one year and also went through your services. He was very happy with his choice. He doesn't mind showing his prosthesis at all, he's quite proud of the result. 

"We feel understood, helped, loved."

Any final words?

Continue to make us dream, it is important for us. We feel on the networks that you are a good team. You really show benevolence, for our happiness, that's what I feel. We feel understood, helped, loved. It brings us a little touch of happiness in our daily life. Continue, we cross our fingers that it lasts as long as possible. We count on you!