Stoma Reversal: What to Expect Before, During, and After Surgery

Medical note: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your surgeon, colorectal nurse, stoma care nurse or GP.

For many people living with a temporary stoma, the idea of reversal surgery can bring a mixture of emotions.

You might feel excited, relieved, nervous, impatient, hopeful or unsure what “back to normal” will really mean. All of those feelings are valid.

A stoma reversal, sometimes called stoma closure, is an operation to reconnect the bowel so that waste passes through the rectum again, rather than into a stoma bag. It can be an important step in recovery, but it is still surgery, and the period afterwards can take time, patience and support.

At HyGeeni, we do not give medical advice. That should always come from your surgeon, colorectal nurse or stoma care nurse. But we do understand that the practical, everyday side of recovery matters too: confidence, dignity, disposal, going out, using different toilets and feeling prepared.

This guide explains what many people can expect before, during and after stoma reversal surgery, with a focus on practical preparation and gentle reassurance.

What is a stoma reversal?

A stoma reversal is an operation that closes a temporary stoma and reconnects the bowel.

A temporary stoma may have been created to allow part of the bowel to rest or heal after illness, injury or surgery. Depending on your original operation, this may be an ileostomy, where the small bowel is brought to the surface of the abdomen, or a colostomy, where part of the large bowel is brought to the surface.

During reversal surgery, the surgeon reconnects the bowel and closes the opening where the stoma was.

According to North Bristol NHS Trust, temporary stomas are usually created for at least six weeks to allow swelling and tissues to settle, but some stomas may not be reversed for several months depending on recovery, general health and any further treatment.

Not every stoma can be reversed, and not every reversal happens quickly. The timing depends on your original surgery, your general health, whether the bowel has healed properly, and whether you need any further treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Your hospital team will be the best people to explain whether reversal is right for you and what outcome you can realistically expect.

Before stoma reversal surgery

Before your reversal, your healthcare team will usually want to check that your body is ready for another operation.

This may include conversations about:

• how well you have recovered from your first surgery
• whether the bowel has healed enough to be reconnected
• whether your anal sphincter muscles are working well enough
• your general fitness for surgery
• any ongoing treatments or health conditions
• what your bowel function might be like afterwards

Some people may need tests before reversal. These can include scans, contrast tests, a rectal examination or a flexible sigmoidoscopy, depending on your circumstances and your hospital’s process.

Colostomy UK recommends asking your consultant or stoma care nurse for detailed information about the proposed surgery, hospital stay, recovery time and expected bowel function in both the short and long term.

Useful questions to ask include:

• What type of reversal am I having?
• How long am I likely to be in hospital?
• What are the main risks for me personally?
• What bowel changes should I expect afterwards?
• Will I need wound dressings at home?
• When can I drive, work, lift, exercise or travel again?
• Who should I call if I am worried after discharge?
• What supplies should I have at home?

There is no such thing as a silly question here. This is your body, your recovery and your daily life.

Practical things to prepare before hospital

It can help to get a few simple things ready before you go into hospital, so home feels easier when you return.

You may want to prepare:

• loose, comfortable clothing that does not press on your tummy
• soft toilet paper or wipes recommended by your care team
• any creams or skin protection products advised by your nurse
• easy meals or gentle foods that suit your post-surgery guidance
• a water bottle to help you stay hydrated
• a small toilet bag for hospital
• spare underwear and pads if your team says leakage is possible
• a list of important phone numbers for your surgical or stoma care team

You may also want to keep discreet disposal options at home, in your bathroom or in your bag. After reversal, some people still need to dispose of stoma supplies they have left over, dressings, wipes, pads or other personal care items.

HyGeeni Disposal Bags are designed for dignified disposal of ostomy bags, catheters, incontinence pads, nappies and other personal care products. They are opaque, sealable and made to help make disposal feel cleaner and more private.

For anyone managing disposal in a shared bathroom, care setting, workplace, hotel or clinic, the HyGeeni Dispenser Starter Pack can also help make discreet disposal easier to access.

What happens during stoma reversal surgery?

The exact operation will depend on your type of stoma and your previous surgery.

In general, stoma reversal is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you will be asleep during the operation. The surgeon usually makes a cut around the stoma, frees the bowel from the abdominal wall, reconnects the bowel and closes the area where the stoma was.

Some people may need a larger incision, especially if scar tissue or previous surgery makes the operation more complex.

The Royal Marsden explains that stoma reversal surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic and that the wound may be left open and dressed while healing, with dressing support arranged after discharge if needed.

Although reversal is often described as a shorter or more straightforward operation than the original stoma surgery, it is still significant bowel surgery. It is completely normal to feel tired, sore or emotional afterwards.

Immediately after surgery

After your operation, you will be monitored by the hospital team as you wake up from the anaesthetic.

You may have:

• a drip to give you fluids
• pain relief
• dressings over the wound
• checks on your temperature, pulse and blood pressure
• support to start moving gently when it is safe
• guidance on eating and drinking again

Your team will usually want to see signs that your bowel is starting to work before you go home. This may include passing wind or opening your bowels.

Hospital stay varies from person to person and depends on the type of reversal, your recovery, your bowel function and whether there are any complications. Some people are in hospital for a few days, while others may need longer.

Before leaving hospital, make sure you know who to contact if you are worried once you are home.

Bowel changes after stoma reversal

This is one of the most important parts to be prepared for.

After stoma reversal, your bowel may not immediately behave the way it did before your original surgery. It may take time to settle, and for some people, bowel habits may never be exactly the same as they were before.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust explains that bowel function after ileostomy reversal may be more frequent, and stool may be looser depending on the previous surgery and how much bowel has been removed.

In the early weeks and months, some people experience:

• more frequent bowel movements
• looser stools
• urgency
• needing to go several times close together
• difficulty telling the difference between wind and stool
• occasional leakage
• soreness around the bottom
• feeling that the bowel has not fully emptied

This can be frustrating, especially if you expected reversal to mean everything would instantly return to normal.

A more realistic way to think about recovery is this: your body is learning a new rhythm.

The bowel may have been resting or unused for some time. Surgery may also have changed how much bowel remains, how much rectum remains, or how the bowel stores and passes stool. That means recovery can take weeks or months.

Your team may suggest diet changes, pelvic floor exercises, medication, skin protection or specialist support if symptoms are difficult to manage. Always follow their advice rather than trying to manage symptoms alone.

Looking after your wound

Your stoma site will need time to heal.

Depending on your surgery, the wound may be closed with stitches, clips, glue or dressings. In some cases, the wound may be left partly open and dressed as it heals from the inside out. Your hospital team will explain how your wound should be cared for.

Before you leave hospital, make sure you know:

• how to care for the wound
• whether a district nurse will visit
• whether stitches or clips need removing
• what normal healing looks like
• what warning signs to watch for
• who to contact if you are worried

Seek medical advice if you notice symptoms such as increasing redness, swelling, heat, discharge, worsening pain, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell.

Eating and drinking after reversal

Your hospital team may recommend eating gently at first while your bowel settles.

Some people are advised to start with smaller, lighter meals and gradually build back up. You may be told to introduce high-fibre foods slowly, depending on your surgery and symptoms.

You may also find it useful to keep a food and symptom diary for a few weeks. This can help you notice whether certain foods or drinks seem to make urgency, looseness or frequency worse.

Try not to compare your recovery to someone else’s. Bowel recovery is very individual.

Speak to your colorectal nurse, stoma nurse, GP or dietitian if you are struggling with ongoing diarrhoea, constipation, urgency, dehydration, poor appetite or weight loss.

For further medical reading, Bowel Cancer UK’s stoma reversal factsheet explains what a stoma reversal is, possible risks and how side effects may be managed afterwards.

Going out after stoma reversal

One of the biggest emotional milestones after reversal can be leaving the house again.

You might feel relieved not to be wearing a stoma bag anymore, but still anxious about needing the toilet quickly, having an accident or managing pads and wipes discreetly.

A simple “going out” kit can help you feel more confident.

You might include:

• spare underwear
• any pads recommended by your care team
• wipes or soft tissues
• a small barrier cream if advised
• a change of clothes if you are nervous
• hand sanitiser
• a discreet disposal bag

HyGeeni Bags can be useful for disposing of personal care items privately when you are away from home. They are designed to be sealable, opaque and discreet, helping you manage awkward disposal moments in public toilets, workplaces, hotels or when travelling.

You can also read our guide to living with a stoma and discreet disposal solutions, which covers practical disposal challenges such as odour, travel and managing supplies away from home.

That small bit of preparation can make a big difference to how safe and relaxed you feel.

Emotional recovery matters too

Stoma reversal is not only physical.

You may have spent months adjusting to life with a stoma. You may have built routines, learned how to change bags, carried supplies, managed leaks, dealt with body image changes and worked hard to regain confidence.

Then reversal asks you to adjust all over again.

Some people feel joyful. Some feel disappointed if recovery is slower than expected. Some grieve the certainty of their stoma routine. Some worry they are “not coping properly” when bowel urgency or leakage happens.

There is no one right way to feel.

Be kind to yourself. Speak to your stoma care nurse, colorectal team, GP or a support organisation if you are struggling. It can also help to talk to other people who have been through reversal, as they may understand the emotional side in a way others cannot.

Support organisations such as Colostomy UK and Bowel Cancer UK offer helpful information for people living with, or recovering from, stoma surgery.

When to seek medical advice

Your hospital should give you clear discharge instructions before you go home. Follow those instructions and use the contact numbers you have been given.

As a general guide, seek medical advice if you experience:

• a high temperature
• increasing wound pain, redness, swelling or discharge
• feeling very unwell
• severe abdominal pain
• persistent vomiting
• not being able to pass wind or stool when expected
• heavy bleeding
• signs of dehydration
• ongoing diarrhoea or urgency that you cannot manage
• sudden worsening of symptoms after initially improving

If something feels wrong, it is always better to ask.

Life after stoma reversal: give yourself time

A stoma reversal can feel like the end of one chapter, but recovery is still a process.

You may not feel “back to normal” straight away. You may need time to rebuild strength, understand your bowel pattern, regain confidence and work out what helps you feel prepared.

That does not mean you have failed. It means your body has been through a lot.

Take the advice of your healthcare team. Rest when you need to. Move gently when you are told it is safe. Ask for help. Keep supplies close by. Celebrate the small milestones: the first short walk, the first trip out, the first settled day, the first time you feel a little more like yourself.

And remember, practical support matters.

Whether you are still using stoma supplies before reversal, managing pads or wipes during recovery, or simply want a more dignified way to dispose of personal care items, HyGeeni is here to help make everyday disposal easier, cleaner and more discreet.

If you are setting up a bathroom, care environment or shared space, our HyGeeni setup and refill guide can help make disposal bags simple to access.

Because recovery is personal.
Disposal should be dignified.
And nobody should have to feel embarrassed about caring for their body.

Helpful sources

North Bristol NHS Trust: Reversal of Stoma
Colostomy UK: Stoma Reversal
Bowel Cancer UK: Stoma Reversal Factsheet
The Royal Marsden: Stoma Reversal Patient Information
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust: Information for Patients Following Ileostomy Reversal
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Bowel Operation — Ileostomy Reversal

Related HyGeeni links

HyGeeni Products
HyGeeni Disposal Bags
HyGeeni Dispenser Starter Pack
HyGeeni Setup & Refill Guide
Living with a Stoma: Discreet Disposal Solutions