#GladRagsandOstomyBags

Bowel surgery is life-changing surgery and the scars it leaves behind, both mentally and physically, are a sign of a person’s strength.

IA has always been strong on promoting a positive body image and having a stoma or internal pouch, with or without body scars, is something nobody should ever feel ashamed of.

As part of IA’s #GladRagsandOstomyBags campaign on social media, we promoted the positives of bowel surgery and how everyone should continue to shine, both on the inside and on the outside.

Many people joined in, sharing their ‘glad rags and ostomy bags’ photos.

Overwhelmed with positive images, some in swimwear, others in their ‘glad rags’, it was important to highlight the comparisons that are made but ultimately it is the same person underneath.

A selection of the images we shared can be seen below.