Hi lg. I will shave around the stoma probably once a week. I wouldn’t use any hair removal creams, no hair means easier to remove the wafer and less chance of a leak following a hair.

Hi LG,

I don't do any hair removal now as there isn't much to remove anymore. Seems that over time the hair has thinned a bit, probably from around 10 months or so of removing appliances and adhesive. However, when I was in the hospital, the ostomy nurse taking care of me did shave there once. She didn't use anything fancy, no kind of lotion or anything else. Memory is a little fuzzy as I was floating in a sea of Dilaudid, but I seem to recall just a regular old single-blade electric shaver. Again, nothing to lubricate or the like, just a dry shave.

Hey Ig

I too shave when I change my appliance . I use my regular razor but like the others say NO lotion etc. but I do use the soap that they give you to use when you are getting ready for surgery . The one I have is Dyna-Hex 4 it cleans and helps the razor from irritating the skin and leaves no residue I have never had a problem with my barrier not sticking afterward .

Epilator and tweezers as per Eric's Suggestion a couple of years ago.  Only have to do it every two weeks or so then not much.  I used an electric shaver before that and didn't do as good of a job.

I use an electric razor (Braun series 7) to clean up the hair on my stomach.  It works great, but the skin needs to be completely free of adhesive or barrier ring residue.  Also use tweezers for some hair around the stoma that can be hard to reach.  Gillette razor works too but I started to feel the onset of irritation so went back to electric.  Maybe when I can stomach the pain, I'll tweeze all the hairs and use an epilator.  But not likely.   Good luck!

I'm still using an epilator and tweezers when needed, and that's just to remove a few stray hairs here and there. Once you start epilating, the hair thins out and it becomes way more manageable. 

It would be nice if you guys had the option to get some kind of permanent hair removal before you got a stoma.

It is not very often that I think "it is easier being a woman than a man", but this might just be one of those times.  ?

Posted by: @dona

It would be nice if you guys had the option to get some kind of permanent hair removal before you got a stoma.

Yup. There is an option of having laser hair removal, but it's not cheap from what I understand. 

I know permanent hair removal is classified as "cosmetic". But, under the circumstances you would think for "male" recipients of an  ostomy & for "obvious" reasons, this form of repetitive posible ancient torture, should be covered. I would like to challenge any doubting Thomas,to apply a wafer to your hairiest body part, remove it & change it every  5 days (is that long enough to grow it  back guys?)  for 1 month as a reality check! I believe there would be swift changes made in what is covered and what is not! Gentlemen, you gave my sympathies!!!

I agree Linda,

Constant pulling of individual hairs can lead to infection in the follicle. Not good underneath a wafer that has to seal. This should be a medical issue.

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

But, under the circumstances you would think for "male" recipients of an  ostomy & for "obvious" reasons, this form of repetitive posible ancient torture, should be covered.

I have to agree and think it would be a very nice option! I'm sure it would reduce complications from ingrown hairs, therefore saving the healthcare system some money at the same time ;) 

My history was temporary ileostomy followed by a couple of years of suffering due to a failed anastomosis followed by a permanent colostomy.  Since I'd had the experience with hair around the first stoma, as soon as it looked pretty certain I'd get a permanent colostomy, I started laser hair removal treatments.  

I'd urge anyone who has advanced warning on an ostomy to look into permanent hair removal, and to start the process 3-9 months ahead of time.  The laser energy is only absorbed by 'active' hair follicles, and so requires several treatments done some weeks apart.  I wish I'd started the laser treatment earlier than I did, so that I could have gotten 1-2x more treatments.

I still get hairs in my peristomal area, but they are very whispy/thin, much weaker and smaller than prior to the laser treatment.  I can pretty much ignore them.

I've made sure to bring the issue of hair removal up with any surgeon I deal with; because the ostomy nurses deal with long term stoma care, they often don't have a clue about hair being an issue.  

I use a happy nutz shaver (comparable to manscape).  I actually like it better because it's cheaper and gets a slightly closer shave.  Also I've bver nicked myself with it.  I did with the manascaper many times.)  To be clear those were pre ostomy nicks. 

Check out the “one blade” electric razor..been using it for 2 years and works great!