It has been a year since my surgery and have gone through many methods of applying the wafer in an effort to extend the life and contain the leakage under the wafer, the root cause of skin irritation. It is sad that we (Ostomy patients) are limited to inferior products that do not meet the basic need to protect the area around the stoma from caustic elements of body fluids.
Here are my leasons learned;
Start by shaving the area around the stoma wide enough for the 4 x 4 wafer.
Clean the area with a skin cleanser and pat dry.
Apply stomahesive powder to any open sores and pat the area to remove the excess powder.
Use a skin barrier and apply by dabbing the pad next to the stoma and over the powdered sores, using a second packet of skin barrier wipe the remaining area where the wafer will make contact.
Using a hydrocolloid barrier material cut 3/8 wide strip and approx. 4 inches long, encircle the stoma, cut excess and join to seal.
Note this material is a stop gap that will slow the deterioration of the wafer and extend the life to 5 days.
When seating the wafer apply pressure from the center and work out to the edges avoiding any folds or bubbles.
A word to the wise, after 5 days your wafer material composition has broken down and your skin is at the mercy of those caustic fluids.
Hope this helps.

P.S. Any day above ground is a good day

Dave, Laguna Niguel, CA