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Ostomy scissors are small curved scissors used to cut the stoma opening in a cut-to-fit skin barrier (the adhesive wafer of a pouching system). Manufacturer and hospital instructions name them as a supply for that one task; a pre-cut barrier needs no cutting at all.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses them: people who change a cut-to-fit pouching system, and the nurses and clinic staff who stock supply lists for them. For how the barrier, flange and pouch fit together, see what an ostomy bag is; for the all-in-one format with a cut-to-fit opening, see the one-piece ostomy bag guide; for the skin-contact layer, see ostomy adhesives.
What are ostomy scissors?
Ostomy scissors, also searched as curved ostomy scissors, are a small pair of curved scissors kept with pouching supplies. Two sources describe the same job: Hollister’s two-piece pouching system leaflet says “Using small curved scissors, carefully cut an opening in the skin barrier to match the pattern,” and UMass Memorial Health’s stoma-sizing page lists a measuring guide, pen, curved scissors, closure clip and ostomy bag as supplies for sizing the opening.
Hollister lists scissors, pen, measuring guide and accessories under “Optional” supplies, because pre-sized barrier openings skip the cutting step.
Where scissors fit with a cut-to-fit barrier
Scissors are used once per cut-to-fit barrier, for a single task: cutting the opening that has been marked on the barrier. Both Hollister and ConvaTec describe tracing on the barrier’s release liner or paper side, and UMass Memorial Health describes marking the opening on the center of the skin barrier. Hollister adds that the stoma is measured with a stoma measuring guide before every barrier application. This page does not give a procedure; follow the instructions packed with the product.
What manufacturer instructions say about the cut
The manufacturer and hospital documents word the cutting instruction differently, which is why the product’s own insert governs.
| Source | Scissors named | What it says about the cut |
|---|---|---|
| Hollister, two-piece pouching system leaflet (2018) | “small curved scissors” | Cut to match the traced pattern; “Do not cut beyond the line on the release liner.” |
| ConvaTec, Esteem synergy+ pre-cut and cut-to-fit guide (2011) | Not named in the cutting step | For cut-to-fit barriers, the opening is traced on the white release paper and cut to the size the guide sets out; it ends with “See package insert for complete Instructions for Use.” |
| UMass Memorial Health, “Stoma Care: Sizing the Opening” | “curved scissors” (supply list and step image) | Its step list includes marking the opening on the center of the skin barrier and then cutting the opening. |
The ConvaTec guide is dated 2011 and applies to that product line, so treat it as an example of manufacturer wording rather than current instructions for any given barrier.
Types and variants
The sources describe the scissors only as small and curved. What varies in the instructions is the barrier, which decides whether scissors are needed at all.
| Barrier type | Scissors needed? | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Cut-to-fit | Yes, to cut the traced opening | ConvaTec: trace on the release paper and cut the opening |
| Pre-cut / pre-sized opening | No | Hollister: “if using a pre-sized barrier opening, go to step 7”; ConvaTec: a barrier with a pre-cut stoma opening is an alternative to cut-to-fit |
None of the manufacturer or hospital documents cited here compares scissor blade styles, materials or sizes, so this page does not rank or size them.
What to check when listing them for a kit
Only points stated in the instructions above are listed here.
- Curved scissors, described as small, are the type named in Hollister’s leaflet and in UMass Memorial’s supply list.
- A stoma measuring guide and a pen appear on the same supply lists.
- Scissors are listed as optional where the barriers stocked have pre-sized openings.
For clinic stock checklists beyond ostomy care, see the wound care clinic supply checklist.
Safe use and handling basics
Hollister’s leaflet says to cut only to the line on the release liner, and ConvaTec’s guide points to the package insert for complete instructions. Questions about an individual’s fit or skin belong with that person’s own wound, ostomy and continence nurse or clinician.
Common mistakes
- Cutting beyond the liner line. Hollister warns against it explicitly.
- Skipping the measurement. Hollister says to measure before every application, not only the first.
- Relying on an old guide instead of the package insert. ConvaTec’s guide itself refers readers to the insert.
FAQ
What are curved ostomy scissors?
They are small curved scissors used to cut the stoma opening in a cut-to-fit skin barrier. Hollister’s leaflet and the UMass Memorial Health stoma-sizing page both name curved scissors for that task.
Do I need ostomy scissors for every pouching system?
No. Hollister’s instructions skip the cutting steps when the barrier has a pre-sized opening, and ConvaTec describes pre-cut barriers as an alternative to cut-to-fit ones.
Does every manufacturer give the same cutting instructions?
No. Hollister’s leaflet and ConvaTec’s guide word the cut differently. Use the instructions packed with the barrier.
Sources
- Hollister Incorporated, “Ostomy Care Tips: Two-Piece Pouching System” (2018 leaflet; hospital-hosted copy): https://xn--espaol-zwa.childrenscolorado.org/contentassets/425a4389d9e94bb4961e944c8297650f/hollister–two-piece-pouching-system.pdf, checked 2026-11-01.
- ConvaTec Inc., “How to Use the Esteem synergy+ Ostomy System with Pre-Cut or Cut-to-Fit Skin Barriers,” AP-011952-US (November 2011; reseller-hosted copy): https://medicalmonks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/EsteemAppGuide_Precut-CutToFit.pdf, checked 2026-11-01.
- UMass Memorial Health, “Stoma Care: Sizing the Opening”: https://www.ummhealth.org/health-library/stoma-care-sizing-the-opening, checked 2026-11-01.
