These groundbreaking prosthetics are so lifelike, they will make you question what's real

Sophie de Oliveira Barata, who has been called "the undisputed queen of personalized prosthetics," has "always been interested in merging the imagination with reality," she said, during a TEDMED talk in San Francisco. "I like tricking the eye with what's real and what's not."

With a background in art and special-effects makeup, she worked for a prosthetics manufacturer before deciding to strike out on her own. "It meant I could use my creative skills and do something massively rewarding," she told The New York Times.

In her UK studio, she creates remarkably realistic and wildly imaginative prosthetic limbs, custom-made based on each person's requests and dreams. She calls it The Alternative Limb Project.

Some of her bespoke prosthetics integrate surreal designs like snakes, stereos, and secret compartments, and some are so lifelike it's uncanny. She gave us permission to share images that show off some of her most realistic prosthetic creations - and the intricate process she uses to make them.