Coloplast vs Hollister vs ConvaTec: Choosing a Stoma Bag in Singapore (with Prices)
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# Coloplast vs Hollister vs ConvaTec: Choosing a Stoma Bag in Singapore (with Prices)
**Full disclosure first:** EMIS+ is a Singapore-based, nurse-led medical supply retailer. We stock and sell products from all three brands compared here, so we have no reason to push you towards any one of them — our interest is that you end up with a bag that fits, seals, and lets you forget about your stoma for a while. That is also why this comparison includes what no manufacturer page will tell you: roughly what each option costs in Singapore dollars.
**Quick answer:** all three major brands — Coloplast (SenSura Mio), Hollister, and ConvaTec (Esteem, Natura) — make excellent, clinically proven pouching systems, and all three are available in Singapore. The differences that actually matter for you are baseplate flexibility, adhesive behaviour in our humid climate, convexity options if your stoma sits low, and price per pouch. Fit beats brand, every time.
## The quick comparison
| | Coloplast | Hollister | ConvaTec |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Flagship ranges** | SenSura Mio, Alterna | New Image (two-piece), Premier (one-piece) | Esteem (one-piece), Natura (two-piece) |
| **Known for** | Elastic adhesive that follows body contours; BodyFit technology | Soft, quiet pouch materials; strong two-piece locking ring | Durable Stomahesive skin barrier; wide convexity range |
| **One-piece options** | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| **Two-piece options** | Yes (click and adhesive coupling) | Yes (locking flange) | Yes (Natura) |
| **Convex options** | Deep, soft and light convex | Yes, incl. soft convex | Yes, broad range |
| **Typical SGD price per closed pouch*** | S$4–8 | S$3.50–7 | S$3.50–7 |
| **Typical SGD price per drainable pouch*** | S$5–9 | S$4–8 | S$4–8 |
| **Two-piece baseplate*** | S$7–13 each | S$6–12 each | S$6–12 each |
*Typical Singapore retail ranges as at mid-2026; actual prices vary by model, size and box quantity. Most items are sold in boxes of 10–30. See current prices in the [stoma products collection](https://emis.asia/collections/stoma-products) and the [Coloplast ostomy range](https://emis.asia/collections/coloplast-ostomy-product).
## What actually distinguishes the brands
### Coloplast — the flexible baseplate
Coloplast's SenSura Mio line is built around an elastic adhesive that stretches with your body when you bend, twist or exercise, and its fabric-like pouch material dries quickly after showers — genuinely useful in Singapore, where a pouch that stays damp under clothing becomes uncomfortable fast. Coloplast also runs a well-known free sampling programme locally, which makes it the brand many people are discharged from hospital with. That is worth knowing: being discharged with a brand is not the same as that brand being the best fit for your body.
### Hollister — comfort and the two-piece lock
Hollister's strength is pouch comfort — soft, quiet materials that do not rustle — and one of the most secure two-piece coupling systems on the market (the New Image locking ring gives an audible click many users find reassuring). Their soft convex options are a good middle path for stomas that sit slightly below skin level but do not need firm pressure.
### ConvaTec — the durable barrier
ConvaTec invented the Stomahesive skin barrier, and durability is still their signature: their barriers tend to resist erosion well, which matters for ileostomies with high, liquid output that eats through adhesives faster. Their Natura two-piece system and wide convexity range make them a frequent choice when the stoma is retracted or the skin around it is uneven.
## One-piece vs two-piece: the bigger decision
Honestly, this choice matters more than the brand.
**A one-piece system** has the skin barrier and pouch fused together. It is slimmer, more flexible and more discreet under clothing — but every pouch change means peeling the adhesive off your skin, and with fragile or elderly skin, fewer adhesive removals per week is a real advantage of the alternative.
**A two-piece system** has a separate baseplate (worn for 2–4 days) and pouches that click or stick onto it. You can swap or burp the pouch without touching your skin, change to a mini-pouch for swimming or intimacy, and the per-week cost often works out similar because the baseplate is reused across pouches.
As a starting point:
- **Choose one-piece** if you value discretion, have good skin, and do not mind full changes.
- **Choose two-piece** if your skin is fragile, you change pouches frequently (common with ileostomy), or you want flexibility to switch pouch sizes.
## Flat vs convex
A flat baseplate suits a stoma that protrudes normally from a flat abdomen. A **convex** baseplate curves inward to press gently around a stoma that is flush with the skin or retracted, helping output go into the bag instead of under the adhesive. If you are getting leaks under the baseplate and your stoma barely protrudes, convexity is usually the fix — but start with soft or light convex, and ideally get a stoma nurse to confirm, because unnecessary firm convexity can damage the skin.
## A simple decision tree
1. **Colostomy with formed output?** → Closed pouches, changed 1–2 times a day. One-piece closed is the common choice.
2. **Ileostomy with liquid output?** → Drainable pouches, emptied several times daily, changed every 1–3 days. Two-piece or extended-wear barriers (ConvaTec's durability shines here).
3. **Urostomy?** → Urostomy pouches with a tap outlet; all three brands make them.
4. **Stoma flush or retracted, or leaking under the baseplate?** → Add convexity, possibly with a barrier ring.
5. **Skin irritated from frequent changes?** → Consider two-piece, plus barrier wipes and adhesive remover from the [ostomy accessories collection](https://emis.asia/collections/ostomy-accessories).
## Singapore-specific realities
Heat and humidity shorten wear time. Sweat under the baseplate softens adhesives, so most people here get a day or so less wear from a baseplate than the packaging suggests. A few local tips: dry the peristomal skin thoroughly (a hairdryer on cool works), use barrier film wipes before applying, and carry a spare pouch when you are out — hawker centre chilli and unexpected output schedules are a real combination.
Availability matters too: hospitals stock a limited brand range, and switching brands later is entirely normal. Your stoma also changes size over the first few months after surgery, so re-measure before every re-order and expect your product needs to evolve.
If you want help choosing, EMIS+ is nurse-led — reach us through [emis.asia](https://emis.asia) with your stoma type and current product, and we can suggest equivalents across brands. For everything compared above, browse the [stoma products collection](https://emis.asia/collections/stoma-products).
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## Frequently Asked Questions
**How much does a colostomy bag cost in Singapore?**
Typically S$3.50–S$9 per pouch at retail, depending on brand, type and size — closed pouches sit at the lower end, drainable pouches slightly higher. Most are sold in boxes of 10–30, so expect roughly S$60–S$200 per box. Two-piece systems add a baseplate at about S$6–S$13 each, reused for several days.
**What is the difference between a one-piece and two-piece stoma bag?**
A one-piece bag has the adhesive skin barrier and pouch fused together — slimmer and more discreet, but every change means removing adhesive from your skin. A two-piece system has a separate baseplate worn for 2–4 days, with pouches that attach to it, so you can change the pouch without touching your skin — gentler on fragile skin and more flexible.
**How often should I change my stoma bag?**
Closed colostomy pouches are usually changed 1–2 times a day when about a third full. Drainable ileostomy pouches are emptied several times daily and changed every 1–3 days. Two-piece baseplates typically stay on 2–4 days. In Singapore's humidity, wear time is often a little shorter than package guidance — change earlier if you feel itching or burning under the baseplate.
**Can I use MediSave for ostomy supplies in Singapore?**
Generally no — MediSave covers approved hospitalisation, day surgery and specific outpatient treatments, not retail purchases of consumables like stoma bags. Financial help usually comes through hospital medical social workers, MediFund for patients in need, and support schemes for eligible seniors. Ask your hospital's medical social worker about your specific situation.
**Which stoma bag brands are available in Singapore?**
The three major international brands — Coloplast, Hollister and ConvaTec — are all available in Singapore through hospital pharmacies, medical supply retailers like EMIS+, and manufacturer sample programmes. Other brands such as B. Braun and Salts appear in smaller volumes. All three majors offer one-piece, two-piece, flat and convex options.
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*Written by Nurse Sarah Lim, RN, of the EMIS+ clinical team (Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing background). EMIS+ retails products from all brands mentioned. This article is general information, not medical advice — consult your stoma care nurse for fitting and product selection.*