Understanding the Differences Between Ostomy and Colostomy Bags (2025)

Ostomy bags get their name from ostomy surgery, a medical procedure used to change how urine or stool exits the body after a surgical procedure. Ostomy is the process of rerouting bodily waste from its usual path as a result of a malfunction in the urinary or digestive system. After an ostomy procedure, you are most likely to require the use of an ostomy bag, which is an appliance or a pouch that collects urine or feces.

An ostomy bag can be attached to a stoma, and it has a barrier that secures it to the skin to protect it from getting soiled by the waste. Additionally, ostomy paste and barrier rings can be used to ensure a better seal around the stoma, enhancing comfort and preventing leaks.

The terms “ostomy” and “stoma” are often used interchangeably in medical contexts to describe a surgically created opening that allows waste to exit the body. An ostomy bag is a general term for any bag used to collect this waste, whether from the intestines or bladder.

Ostomies are usually named according to their locations in the body, which means that a colostomy is an ostomy that is located in the colon or the large intestines. On the other hand, an ileostomy bag, a type of ostomy, is most suitable for collecting liquid waste, such as urine, from the bladder. An ileostomy bag will be located close to the small intestines because the output in these areas contains more water content. A colostomy bag is best suited for the large intestines where there is less water content, and it collects the more pasty solid waste.