What Are the Different Types of Ostomy Bags?

When it comes to finding an ostomy bag to use after a surgery, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Many different types of ostomy bags exist on the market, so you’ll need to make sure you buy yourself the right kind for your needs. That’s where we come in to help. We’ll go over each of the main types here so you can decide which one best suits your unique needs.

Based on Ostomy Procedure

A person can undergo a few different types of ostomy procedures. Depending on the type, they’ll need a bag that best suits the location of the stoma as well as what will be coming out of it. Here are the ones that vary based on those criteria.

Colostomy Bag

A colostomy is when the large intestine gets redirected out of a stoma. These usually come out on the left side of the abdomen. Since the large intestine has fully formed stool, you’ll need a bag that can handle that, so most colostomy bags are a bit more heavy-duty.

Ileostomy Bag

If it’s the small intestine that gets fully directed out of a stoma, then you’ll need an ileostomy bag. The location for these bags is more commonly on the right side of the abdomen, so the bag’s design is reversed. The stool also won’t be as fully formed, so this type of bag will be a bit lighter.

Urostomy Bag

A urostomy surgery also comes from the small intestine, but it’s more focused on removing urine from your system. This bag will also be on the right side of your body, but it’ll be much thinner since it will only handle liquids that come through your stoma.

Based on Features

The other main component that differentiates the types of ostomy bags from one another is what features they have. While the list of potential options your ostomy bag could have is quite long, there are three primary ones that you’ll want to consider before buying one.

Two-Piece Bag

All ostomy bags have a skin barrier that helps make them less irritating to wear, and for the two-piece bag, this layer is separate from the bag itself. This makes it possible to remove the bag while keeping the skin barrier in place. You’ll still need to replace that part every two to four days, but it’s not as bothersome for your skin.

One-Piece Bag

On the other side of things, we have the one-piece bag. This option has the skin barrier permanently attached to the ostomy bag. While this might irritate the skin more, it’s much easier to change out since the whole thing comes off each time.

Drainable Bag

Finally, we have the drainable bag. If you really hate changing out the bag or need to do so in a hurry each day, the drainable one will make the process much quicker. The obvious downside would be accidental messes, but the ease of use typically outweighs that negative possibility.

Ultimately, regardless of which bag you decide to use, My Care Supplies is the best place to buy. From bags to skin creams, we have all the ostomy supplies you could ever need. Take the time to look through our selection to find the items that are best suited for you.