Background: The aim of this paper is to discuss matters pertaining to utilisation of aesthetic hand prostheses from a theoretical perspective of activities in everyday life. Method: Building on preliminary data from an ongoing research review focusing aesthetic hand prostheses, results are preliminary. Data has been gathered by means of searching research databases for publications relating to aesthetic/cosmetic hand prostheses. Results: Research makes a clear division between function (e.g. myoelectric prostheses) and appearance (e.g. aesthetic prostheses). The functioning hand prosthesis is defined as an active device providing a person (with one hand) means to perform activities in a two-handed manner. However, these devices are rather crude in comparison with a biological hand, providing limited function (e.g. the possibility to grip an object). The other type of hand prosthesis, the appearance-based aesthetic hand prosthesis, is a rigid device constructed to give the static impression that a person (with one hand) has two hands, i.e. a device without a functioning grip. The divide between active and passive prosthetic hands is built on the notion of ‘activity’ being defined by the ability to grip something. Conclusions: The aesthetic hand prosthesis is regarded as non-functioning based on the notion of ‘activity’ being the explicit application of a grip. This view on ‘activity’ ignores other types of function, for instance the personal and social function and meaning of the aesthetic prosthesis. From this follows that the matter of ‘function’ in relation to an aesthetic hand prosthesis pertains to a width of factors relating to the person, the device, and the environment in which the person exists. These factors are all but static due to the constant interaction between the person and the social and physical environment, where the prosthesis is ascribed different meaning in different situations/activities.