a stiffening member is removably provided for mounting the very thin flexible membrane in a spread out condition while it is being attached to the skin and the stiffening member is thereafter removed so that the appliance is supported on the skin only by the flexible permeable membrane application_number US 82779586 A description a patient who has had an ostomy is shown wearing a preferred embodiment 10 of the ostomy appliance of the present invention in fig1 appliance 10 includes a bag 12 the upper portion of which is attached at a stoma as will be illustrated in more detail hereinafter bag 12 has a drain 14 at the bottom with a removable plug 16 for emptying the bag an attached cloth cover 18 is provided which isolates the body of bag 12 from the user 39 s skin to avoid skin irritation from the bag itself the adhesion provided by the attachment mechanism of the present invention is sufficient so that a supporting belt need not be worn the construction of ostomy appliance 10 is illustrated in more detail by way of reference to fig2 and 3 in combination an opening 20 is provided in the side of bag 12 facing the user a circular flange of flexible film 22 is located about opening 20 and has a corresponding opening the interior portion of flange 22 is heat sealed or otherwise fixed to bag 12 at circumferential locations 24 so that the interior portion of the flange is maintained flush with bag.