If you or a loved one has been living with a stoma, the prospect of reversing ostomy is a major milestone. It represents a return to a more familiar way of life and the conclusion of a significant surgical journey. However, moving toward reversing an ostomy comes with its own set of questions and physical adjustments.

Understanding the process—from the initial ostomy reversal surgery to the long-term healing phase—can help you prepare mentally and physically for the road ahead.

What is Ostomy Reversal?

According to Cleveland Clinic , ostomy reversal is an elective procedure that reconnects the bowel and closes the stoma opening. In most cases, the surgeon frees the bowel segment from the abdominal wall, reconnects it to the downstream bowel (an anastomosis), and then closes the former stoma site so stool can pass through the rectum/anus again.

Eligibility: Why Reversing an Ostomy Varies

Whether reversing an ostomy is possible usually depends on why the ostomy was created and what anatomy remains.

• If the stoma was created to temporarily divert stool, protect a healing anastomosis, or allow inflammation/infection to settle, an ostomy reversal is often part of the long-term plan.
• If the surgeon expected the ostomy to be permanent (for example, due to disease location, cancer surgery, or loss of sphincter function), reversal may not be possible or may not be recommended. 
  

When can Ostomy Reversal Surgery be Considered?

Many patients hear a common range of 3–12 months, but the real rule is: only after healing and readiness are confirmed (and timing may shift if chemo/radiation or other treatments are needed). The ACS describes that the timing can vary 3 to 12 months, depending on recovery and treatments like chemotherapy.

Conditions for Ostomy Reversal Surgery

Before you can schedule an ostomy reversal, your surgical team must confirm that your body is physically ready for the change.

Here are the key conditions surgeons look for:

• Bowel Health: The remaining sections of your intestine must be fully healed and free from active inflammation or disease (like a Crohn's flare-up) before reversing ostomy connections.
• Muscle Control: You must have enough strength in your anal sphincter muscles to control bowel movements. If these muscles are too weak, a reversal ostomy could lead to permanent accidents.
• A Clear Path: Surgeons check for any blockages or narrowing (strictures) in the lower bowel that might stop waste from passing after reversing an ostomy.
• Healed Connections: If you have an existing internal connection, it must be leak-free. This is often confirmed with a scan or "leak test" before your ostomy reversal surgery.
• General Fitness: You must be healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia and have the nutritional strength to heal properly after an ostomy reversal.
  

How to Prepare for Ostomy Reversal

Before you undergo ostomy reversal surgery, your medical team will perform several evaluations. Preparation is key to a successful ostomy reversal.

• Physical Evaluation: Your surgeon will confirm that the bowel has healed sufficiently to handle reversing an ostomy.
• Nutritional Support: High-protein diets are often recommended before reversal ostomy procedures to aid tissue repair.
• Bowel Prep: Similar to a colonoscopy, you may need a bowel cleanse before your ostomy reversal surgery.
• Pelvic Floor Exercises: Strengthening the muscles used for bowel movements is essential before reversing ostomy connections.
  

Clinical data from the Cleveland Clinic s uggests that a healthy BMI and smoking cessation significantly improve outcomes for those reversing an ostomy.

The Procedure: What Happens During Reversal Ostomy?

Ostomy reversal is typically done under general anesthesia. Usual steps:

1. the bowel is freed from the abdominal wall at the stoma site
2. the bowel ends are reconnected (anastomosis)
3. the stoma opening/incisions are close

The duration of a reversal ostomy procedure varies but usually lasts between one to three hours.

Recovery: Life After Reversing an Ostomy

Recovery from ostomy reversal surgery involves two phases: hospital stay and home recovery. Immediately after your ostomy reversal, your bowels may be "sleepy" (ileus). This is a common occurrence when reversing ostomy loops.

How long is basic recovery after ostomy reversal?

Many people need 6–8 weeks before energy and daily function feel more stable (your surgeon’s guidance always overrides general timelines). 

A More Useful Timeline: What You may Feel

Week 1: bowel restart phase

• bloating, fatigue, unpredictable stools
• best approach: don’t rush food variety; stabilize first
  

Weeks 2–4: adjustment phase (often the most stressful)

• frequent/urgent stools are common
• occasional leakage can occur
• constipation may alternate with diarrhea

Support strategies:

• keep a food–symptom diary
• eat smaller meals
• protect perianal skin early

Weeks 4–8: patterns become more predictable

• many people feel “more like themselves”
• if severe diarrhea/constipation/continence issues persist, early medical guidance can help (diet, meds, pelvic floor therapy when appropriate

Diet: A Step-by-Step Plan

A practical early recovery approach is often low-fiber/low-residue until stools stabilize.
MSKCC ’s low-fiber guidance provides clear numbers and label-reading rules (e.g., keeping fiber low per serving/meal and limiting total daily fiber early when instructed).

Phase 1 (stabilize):

white rice/pasta, eggs, fish/chicken, mashed potatoes (no skin), well-cooked soft vegetables, bananas/applesauce

Phase 2 (expand):

add one new food at a time, watch symptoms for 24 hours

Phase 3 (return):

gradually reintroduce more fruits/vegetables and fiber based on tolerance

Helpful micro-tips

frequent loose stools: prioritize fluids/electrolytes; avoid very sugary drinks
constipation: increase fluids; ask your care team before adding fiber supplements or laxatives

Benefits and Risks

Benefits of Ostomy Reversal

For many people, reversal ostomy can mean:

• no longer wearing an ostomy pouch
• fewer stoma-related leaks and skin irritation issues
• improved comfort, confidence, and daily flexibility
  

Key Risks and Complications 

All surgeries carry general risks (infection, bleeding, blood clots). According to Mayo Clinic, the most important specific risks include:

• Anastomotic leak: a leak at the reconnection site can be serious and may require additional treatment or surgery.
• Slow bowel recovery: the bowel can temporarily slow down after surgery.
• Wound infection: stoma-site closure can carry infection risk.
• Hernia at the stoma site: also listed by Mayo Clinic as a possible complication after 

Poop Changes

Cleveland Clinic explains that bowel function may take time to normalize. Diarrhea is common, constipation can also happen, and urgency/frequency may last a few days up to a few months:

• Common early patterns after ostomy reversal:
• urgency (“need to go now”)
• frequent bowel movements
• clustering (multiple trips close together)
• loose stools, constipation, or alternating patterns
  

When to Call Your Doctor

While most people recover smoothly from an ostomy reversal, you should stay alert for any warning signs. It is important to know when a symptom is a normal part of reversing an ostomy and when it requires medical attention:

Severe Pain: Abdominal pain that gets worse instead of better after your reversal ostomy.

• High Fever: A temperature over 101°F (38.3°C) can be a sign of infection following reversing ostomy surgery.
• No Bowel Activity: If you stop passing gas or having bowel movements for more than 24 hours after your ostomy reversal.
• Vomiting: Persistent nausea or vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down.
• Wound Changes: Excessive redness, swelling, or foul-smelling discharge at the site where you are reversing an ostomy.
• Persistent Diarrhea: Having more than 10 watery stools a day after your ostomy reversal surgery.
  

By calling your doctor early, you can ensure that your reversal ostomy recovery stays on the right track and avoid serious complications.

Q: How long do I have to wait for an ostomy reversal?

A: Most doctors suggest waiting 3 to 12 months before reversing an ostomy. This ensures you have fully recovered from your first surgery before starting your ostomy reversal surgery.

Q: Is an ostomy reversal surgery painful?

A: There is discomfort, but most find it less painful than the original surgery. Your team will provide pain relief to help you through the reversal ostomy recovery.

Q: Will I be "normal" right after reversing an ostomy?

A: It takes time. Your bowel habits will change after a reversal ostomy, but they usually stabilize within 6 to 12 months after the ostomy reversal.

Q: Can a reversal ostomy fail?

A: While rare, complications can happen. Following your doctor's advice for reversing ostomy sites is the best way to ensure your ostomy reversal surgery is a success.