When a part of your intestine doesn't work correctly, you may need a stoma. This can be a life-saving surgery for some people.
During colostomy surgery, a surgeon:
Since there's no muscle around the stoma, you can't control when stool or gas leaves your body. Your waste will automatically go from the stoma into the colostomy pouch (bag) around the stoma.
The discreet bag — which you can't see through clothes — will block the smell of waste.
Our ostomy and wound care experts:
The following UPMC Wound Healing Services locations offer ostomy care: