At age 78, after four months in-place, my ileostomy was taken down laparoscopically. Surgery took approximately two hours and I spent two nights in the hospital. The stoma wound, approximately the size of a ping pong ball was allowed to heal from the inside to minimize the possibility of infection. I have an incredible surgeon and things could not have gone better. I have to say that my ileostomy was far less burdensome than I imagined it would be.