Stoma Care: Sizing the Opening

Here are images that show the steps for sizing the opening of your stoma.

FacebookXLinkedinEmailCopy LinkPrint

Step-by-Step

Supplies needed to size stoma, including measuring guide, pen, curved scissors, closure clip, and ostomy bag.

1. Gather your supplies.

Person holding measuring guide to stoma with one hand and other hand keeping shirt rolled up.

2. Size your stoma with the measuring guide.

Stoma showing through opening of measuring guide with just enough space around stoma to not touch measuring guide.

3. Find the opening that fits just around your stoma.

Person using pen to mark front of ostomy bag skin barrier with measuring guide.

4. Mark the opening on the center of the skin barrier.

One hand holding ostomy bag from front, while other hand peels back of bag away.

5. Pull the back of the pouch away from the front.

Person using curved scissors to cut opening.

6. Cut the opening.

Hand peeling back adhesive layer from front of ostomy bag.

7. Peel the backing from the barrier.

Person placing ostomy bag with stoma in center of opening.

8. Place the barrier over your stoma and press to adhere.

Content provided by WebMD Ignite (“WebMD”) is intended for general, informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied on solely for clinical decisions. WebMD makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy, reliability of our Content, however; users understand that information contained in the Content may become outdated or incomplete due to new research, findings or clinical guidelines. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. WebMD does not guarantee that all content will always be current, error-free or complete.