Staff Answer
Jun 04, 2026 - 09:50 AM
An ostomy bag collects output from the stoma, while an ostomy wafer is the skin barrier that attaches the pouching system to the skin around the stoma. The bag holds stool or urine, depending on the type of ostomy, while the wafer helps protect the surrounding skin and provides the surface that secures the pouching system in place.
In a one-piece ostomy system, the bag and wafer are combined into a single unit. In a two-piece ostomy system, the bag and wafer are separate components that connect together and must be compatible with each other.
