Ostomy Skin Barriers in Lebanon

A flat barrier is the starting point and suits most people: it works when the stoma protrudes slightly above the skin and the area around it is reasonably even. Hollister's flat FlexWear base comes in 45, 55 and 70 mm; HDL-Hendry's hydrocolloid base comes in 50, 60 and 70 mm with a printed 5–70 mm cutting guide.

A convex barrier has a curved inner surface that presses gently into the skin around the stoma, encouraging a flush or retracted stoma to sit slightly forward. It is a targeted solution, not an upgrade: it is indicated when the stoma sits level with or below the skin, when the skin around it dips, or when a flat barrier plus a barrier ring is still leaking. Because it works by pressure, it is not right for every stoma and should be discussed with your stoma nurse before switching.

Between those two sits the most useful intermediate step, which many people skip: a barrier ring or paste under a flat barrier. If a flat wafer is leaking because the skin has a scar, a crease or a dip, filling that gap often solves the problem without changing the system at all.

Cut the opening about 2 mm larger than the stoma at its widest point. Too large exposes skin to output; too tight rubs the stoma. In the months after surgery the stoma shrinks, so re-measure every few weeks rather than cutting to the same template.

Warm the barrier between your hands before applying it, put it on clean dry skin, and hold it in place for around thirty seconds. Hydrocolloid bonds with body heat and pressure — this one step makes a real difference to wear time and costs nothing.

Flange size is not stoma size. The 45 / 55 / 70 mm on a Hollister product and the 50 / 60 / 70 mm on an HDL-Hendry product refer to the coupling ring the pouch attaches to, and the two ranges are not interchangeable. If you do not know which you have, send us a photo of the box on WhatsApp.