Ostomy procedures like colostomies and ileostomies are life-saving procedures for many people, but they’re also life-changing, and those who undergo ostomies have to get used to using ostomy bags and pouches. These bags help to collect waste from the body as it passes out through the stoma, which is an opening in the body formed during the ostomy surgery.

There are quite a few different types of ostomy bags, and it’s important to find the right bag for each patient to suit their needs and lifestyle. The bags can vary in terms of size and design, and some are better-suited for certain people and activities than others. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the various types of ostomy bags and pouching systems.

Types of Ostomy Pouches

An ostomy bag or pouching system is simply a medical device that serves as a receptacle for waste matter. After an ostomy procedure, an opening is made in the abdomen, known as a stoma. Waste can leave the body via the stoma, passing into the ostomy pouching system, which can be emptied and cleaned as needed.

As explained above, there are multiple varieties of ostomy pouching systems, and they can vary quite largely in terms of their design and functionality. Some ostomy bags are disposable, for example, while others are drainable and reusable. Below, we’ll look at each type, covering their uses, pros, and cons.

One-Piece and Two-Piece

Ostomy bags are often divided into one-piece and two-piece categories. One-piece systems consist of a single bag that attaches directly to the skin, while two-piece systems have a bag and a separate flange; the flange attaches to the skin and the bag then connects to the flange.

One-Piece Ostomy Bags

Overview

A one-piece ostomy bag or pouch, as the name implies, consists of one single piece, rather than multiple parts or sections. It’s a simple, singular bag that can attach to the skin to collect waste as it leaves the body through the stoma. 

One-piece ostomy bags can come in various forms and sizes, including closed bags and drainable bags, and one-piece systems have the advantage of being quite discreet, but tend to require more maintenance and can cause some irritation.

Advantages

One of the best things about one-piece ostomy bags is the fact that they’re very simple and discreet. They’re easy to work with, and they’re ideal for people who don’t want their ostomy bag to be easily seen by others. 

They’re also relatively slim and not very obtrusive, so they won’t get in the way much while the wearer goes about their daily business and routine. They’re also well-suited for active or sporty people.

Disadvantages

On the downside, due to their design and the need to change them often, one-piece bags can be quite uncomfortable for the wearer. They may cause irritation and can be frustrating for anyone with special needs.

Two-Piece Ostomy Bags

Overview

Another popular option is a two-piece system. As the name implies, a two-piece system is comprised of two separate pieces: there’s the bag itself, as well as a small flange, also known as a skin barrier or wager. The flange is what attaches to the user’s skin, and then the bag sticks onto the flange to collect waste. 

Thanks to their clever design, two-piece systems require less frequent skin barrier changes, as the flange can stay in place for several days at a time. This makes them more comfortable to work with for many, although they do have some downsides, as well.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of two-piece ostomy bags is the fact that they’re generally much more comfortable to wear than one-piece bags. This is because the flange doesn’t need changing every day, so there’s less chance of skin irritation. 

Two-piece bags are also well-suited for those with special needs, and it’s actually quicker and simpler to change the bag of a two-piece system than it is with a one-piece ostomy pouching system.

Disadvantages

Two-piece bags do have some disadvantages, too. Firstly, they’re usually bigger and bulkier than one-piece bags, which can make them harder to hide and more difficult to wear for certain sports and activities. There’s also a higher risk of leakage with a two-piece bag, and they can be more expensive, as well.

Drainable and Closed-End

Two other categories of ostomy bags are drainable, otherwise known as open-end, and closed-end bags. Open-end or drainable bags have an end that can be opened to allow for drainage, while closed-end bags are closed shut, so the bags need to be disposed of and replaced once full.

Drainable Ostomy Bags

Overview

A drainable ostomy pouch, which can also be referred to as an open-end system, is one that has a drainable end. The end can be opened to allow for waste to drain out, and the bag can then be reused. 

These kinds of bags are available in both one-piece and two-piece forms, and they’re often recommended for those who undergo ileostomy procedures or people who have stool that is only semi-formed, which allows for relatively easy drainage.

Advantages

The main advantage of drainable ostomy bags is that they can be emptied. This allows each bag to be reused and worn for longer without the need for frequent changes. Thanks to this, people with open-end bags tend to spend less money on their ostomy supplies, and they’re some of the best options for people who have undergone an ileostomy procedure.

Disadvantages

The disadvantage with an open-end or drainable bag is that it’s much harder to use with hard or thick stool. It can be very difficult and time-consuming to empty these bags for some people, and the bags may feel uncomfortable, as well.

Closed-End Ostomy Bags

Overview

The other option is a closed-end pouching system. This is a system that is closed, meaning that it’s not possible to simply open up the end and drain the bag when it gets full. 

Instead, with closed-end bags, the pouch actually gets thrown away and replaced with a new one every time it fills up. These kinds of bags work best for people who have thick or solid waste output.

Advantages

A good advantage of closed-system ostomy bags is that they allow people to lead quite active and comfortable lifestyles. Wearers can swim with these bags without the risk of any leaks or problems, and they’re also suitable for exercise and intimacy, too. 

Closed ostomy bags also come in flushable forms that are really easy to dispose of, and they’re well-suited for colostomy patients and those who have thick and solid stool.

Disadvantages

One of the downsides with a closed pouching system is that you always need to have replacement bags to hand and ready to use. Plus, you have to dispose of the bags quite regularly, which can be difficult in certain locations or situations. Such bags aren’t the best for people with high levels of liquid output.

Pre-Sized and Cut-to-Fit 

Ostomy bags and pouching systems are also sold in pre-cut and cut-to-fit varieties. The right fit is really important when using an ostomy bag, and some users may require a cut-to-fit bag that fits specifically around their stoma to minimize the risk of leakage.

Pre-Sized Ostomy Bags

Overview

As the name suggests, a pre-sized ostomy bag is one that has been pre-cut and measured to a general size that can suit most users, but is not specifically tailored for an individual stoma. Most people can use pre-cut or pre-sized bags with ease, but they might not fit right on certain patients.

Advantages

One of the advantages of using a pre-cut stoma is that they’re easier and faster to get hold of. They’re also fine for anyone with an evenly round stoma, and they’re generally quite simple to apply.

Disadvantages

A disadvantage of pre-cut ostomy bags is that, due to their general sizing, they might not fit on someone with a slightly abnormally-shaped or sized stoma. They’re not very adaptable to those with odd stoma sizes, and they may cause leakage if the fit isn’t quite right.

Cut-to-Fit Ostomy Bags

Overview

The other option is cut-to-fit bags. Cut-to-fit bags are bags that actually require the user to cut the skin barrier themselves to suit the specific shape and size of their stoma before applying the bag into position. This is useful for anyone with a stoma that is oddly-shaped or sized.

Advantages

For people with stomas that have a slightly out-of-the-ordinary shape or size, cut-to-fit ostomy bags are the best, and sometimes the only option. They’re able to adapt to the patient’s needs and they’re very flexible and versatile.

Disadvantages

The downside with cut-to-fit bags is that they’re more awkward to use and more time-consuming to set-up, as you have to take time to measure and cut the skin barrier to suit your specific needs. This can be tiring, especially as new bags need to be prepared on a regular basis.

Flat and Convex 

We can also divide ostomy bags and pouching systems by shape. Some bags are very flat and thin, which makes them discreet when worn, while others have a convex shape, meaning that they stand out a little more but can be better-suited to certain kinds of stomas or skin wrinkles and shapes.

Flat Ostomy Bags

Overview

The vast majority of ostomy bags and pouches are flat. They have flat, sticky backings that allow the bag to be placed in a fixed position, and they’re very discreet, allowing the wearer to live a mostly normal life without other people even knowing that they have an ostomy bag at all.

Advantages

There are multiple benefits of using a flat ostomy bag. One of the main benefits is discretion. A lot of people don’t necessarily want others to know that they’re wearing an ostomy bag when they’re in public or at work, and flat bags adhere tightly to the skin and aren’t very visible under clothes. They’re also fine for stomas that protrude by half an inch or more.

Disadvantages

The downside with flat ostomy bags is that they’ll only work on stomas with a certain level of protrusion. For shorter or narrower stomas, these bags simply won’t fit. Plus, they can be difficult to fit on people with different surgical scars, wrinkles, and creases.

Convex Ostomy Bags

Overview

If the patient has a retracted stoma, skin wrinkles, creases, or other skin shapes and marks that make it difficult for a flat bag to work, a convex bag will be chosen. These bags have a slightly different shape, with various levels of curvature to suit patients with different body and stoma types.

Advantages

The main advantage of convex ostomy bags is their versatility. These kinds of ostomy bags have the right shape to fit around smaller stomas, as well as adapting to skin wrinkles, creases, surgical scars, and so on. They’re also available in different options, like pre-cut and moldable, as well as with different levels of curvature.

Disadvantages

The downside with convex ostomy bags is that they have a thicker profile compared to flat bags. This makes them less discreet and easier for other people to notice. They also tend to be more expensive overall when compared to flat alternatives.

Opaque and Transparent

The final way in which we can divide ostomy bags and pouching system is into opaque and transparent varieties. As the names suggest, opaque bags are colored so that they cannot be seen through, whereas transparent bags are see-through, allowing the user to see and inspect the contents of each bag. There are pros and cons to both of these options.

Opaque Ostomy Bags

Overview

Opaque ostomy bags are bags that have colored exteriors and cannot be seen through. The purpose of this design is to conceal the contents of the pouch, and it’s common for opaque ostomy bags to have a beige-like color so that they can blend in with the skin tone of many wearers. 

Advantages

One of the main pros of opaque bags is discretion. They’re specially designed to be less visible and to hide the contents of the bag, which can help to make the wearer feel more comfortable and confident, preventing certain situations that might be considered awkward or embarrassing if the bag was to be seen by someone else.

Disadvantages

The downside with opaque bags is that, because it’s not possible to see inside them, it can be hard to gauge how full they are or to identify possible problems, such as changes in consistency or color of the waste products that pass out of the stoma.

Transparent Ostomy Bags

Overview

With transparent ostomy bags, the bag’s material is designed to be see-through. This allows the wearer or a caregiver who helps the wearer to be able to look into the bag at any time to see how full it is and check for any possible problems or issues.

Advantages

There are certain advantages to choosing a transparent ostomy bag. Firstly, if a patient has a caregiver, transparent bags make it much easier for the caregiver to see when the bag needs changing or to notice any problems. It also helps to reduce the level of patient intrusion by the caregiver.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of transparent bags is the fact that they offer less discretion to the wearer. This can cause some people to feel less comfortable while wearing their bag or when changing it.

The Leading Brands and Manufacturers of Ostomy Bags

There are various different manufacturers and providers of ostomy bags. Here are some brief descriptions of some of the main brands that supply these products.

Coloplast

Coloplast, also known as Coloplast A/S, is a Danish company headquartered in the Humlebaeg region of Denmark. Founded in 1957, this company has grown to become a major manufacturer of medical devices and equipment connected to ostomy, urology, and other areas of medical care. 

Coloplast produces some of the most popular and widely-used ostomy bags and supporting accessories in the world, including the likes of the SenSura one-piece drainable ostomy bag, the SenSura Flex closed pouch, and the SenSura Flex drainable pouch.

Convatec

Convatec, or Convatec Group plc, is a medical products and technology company based in Reading, England. This company was founded in 1978 and grew exponentially over the years, eventually being acquired by Nordic Capital in 2008 and then merging with Unomedical and 180 Medical later on. 

Some of the top brand lines of ostomy bags and accessories created by Convatec include the Natura and Esteem ranges, and some of the company’s top products in this field include the Natura Durahesive Skin Barrier and the Esteem One-Piece Moldable Drainable Pouch.

Hollister

Hollister, or Hollister Incorporated, is an independent medical products and services company that was founded in 1921. The company is based out of Illinois in the US, but has offices and employees in various places around the world.

This company specializes in ostomy products and accessories, including a wide variety of ostomy bags under brand names like Conform and CeraPlus. Some of the top ostomy bags sold by Hollister include the Conform 2 Closed Ostomy Pouch and the CeraPlus Soft Convex Urostomy Pouch.

Where Can I Buy Ostomy Bags From These Brands?

If you’re looking to buy high quality ostomy bags in various sizes and styles, from convex bags to two-piece pouching systems, you can find them all at CIA Medical. CIA Medical is one of the top wholesale providers of medical devices and equipment, with a huge range of products from all the best brands, at the lowest prices. Take a look through our full selection of ostomy bags and place your order today.