Will I need a colostomy bag after colon surgery?

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What an ostomy is

An ostomy (colostomy or ileostomy) brings a piece of bowel to an opening on the belly, and stool collects in a pouch. It lets the bowel rest and heal, or bypasses a part that cannot be safely reconnected.

When an ostomy is more likely

• Emergency surgery, for example a perforation with widespread infection
• Severe inflammation or a bowel that is not prepared for reconnection
• Some cancers low in the rectum
• Health factors that make healing of the connection less reliable

A temporary ostomy can often be reversed in a later, smaller operation once you have healed.

How to lower the chance

Planning surgery electively, after an attack has calmed down, is one of the best ways to avoid a bag. So is getting symptoms checked early instead of waiting for an emergency. Not smoking, good nutrition and good blood-sugar control also help healing.

If you do need one

You will be taught how to care for it before you go home, with help from ostomy nurses. Many people live full, active lives with an ostomy, temporary or permanent.

When to see a surgeon

• You have repeated diverticulitis and want to plan surgery before an emergency
• You have been told you need colon surgery and want to understand your options

Get urgent care: Go to the ER for severe belly pain, fever, a swollen belly, or being unable to pass gas or stool.

Learn more: Colon & diverticulitis surgery · Colon cancer surgery

Talk with Dr. Tufts

Dr. Tufts is a minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon. To have your symptoms evaluated or talk through your options, call (941) 391-5102 to schedule a visit at Charlotte Harbor Surgical, 4245 Kings Hwy, Unit A, Port Charlotte, FL 33980. We see patients from Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Englewood, Cape Coral and North Fort Myers and across Southwest Florida.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Matthew Tufts, MD, FACS, a board-certified minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon in Port Charlotte, FL. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Every patient is different. Dr. Tufts will review your history, exam and test results with you and explain the options, benefits and risks that apply to you.