ConvaTec AQUACEL Extra Hydrofiber Dressing with Strengthening Fiber — 3 Sizes, Moderate to Heavy Exudate

Nine times stronger. Thirty-nine percent more absorbent. Still removes in one piece. AQUACEL Extra is ConvaTec's reinforced Hydrofiber dressing — two layers of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) Hydrofiber stitched together with two-dimensional strengthening fibers that hold the dressing together as it gels, under pressure, and through the full wear period. Where standard Aquacel can fragment or lose integrity on heavily exuding or high-pressure wounds, AQUACEL Extra maintains its structure from application through removal. The result is a highly absorbent, gelling dressing that manages moderate to heavy wound exudate, protects the wound bed, and lifts away as a single cohesive sheet — reducing wound bed disruption and dressing change trauma.

✔ 9× Stronger Than Standard AQUACEL    ✔ 39% More Absorbent Than Standard AQUACEL    ✔ Two-Dimensional Strengthening Fibers — Stays Intact Under Pressure    ✔ Gels on Contact, Removes in One Piece    ✔ Wear Up to 7 Days

Product Details & Available Sizes

Indicated For — Wound Types

• Moderate to highly exuding chronic wounds — the primary indication for the Extra formulation
• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries — all stages
• Venous leg ulcers and venous stasis ulcers
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Second degree burns
• Abrasions, lacerations, and superficial cuts
• Surgical wounds and incisions healing by secondary intention
• Donor sites
• Infected wounds (with appropriate clinical management)
• Wounds requiring dressing use under compression bandaging

How AQUACEL Extra Works — Hydrofiber Technology + Strengthening Fiber

Standard AQUACEL is made from a single layer of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) Hydrofiber — a soft, hydrophilic material that absorbs wound exudate and transforms into a cohesive gel sheet. AQUACEL Extra takes this foundation and adds a second Hydrofiber layer, stitch-bonded with non-woven strengthening fibers running in two dimensions across the dressing. This structural reinforcement changes the dressing's behavior in three critical ways:

• Strength under pressure — The stitch-bonded structure holds the dressing together even when compressed under bandaging, preventing fragmentation that can leave fiber residue in the wound bed.
• Maintained integrity during gelling — Standard Hydrofiber fully transforms into gel on contact with exudate, which can compromise dressing integrity in heavily exuding wounds. AQUACEL Extra's reinforced fibers retain their structural form even as the dressing gels, so the dressing remains manageable and removable as a single unit.
• Greater absorbency without lateral spread — The dual-layer construction increases total exudate capacity by 39% compared to the original. The dressing draws fluid vertically into its layers and locks it away, rather than allowing it to spread laterally and macerate periwound skin.

• Gels on contact with wound moisture — conforms to wound bed contours
• Absorbs and locks away wound fluid including harmful bacteria and debris
• Maintains moist wound environment — reduces dressing change pain and trauma
• Can be layered for wounds with very high exudate volume
• Removes as a single cohesive gel sheet — minimizes wound bed disruption
• Can be cut to fit irregularly shaped wounds without compromising dressing integrity
• Compatible with compression bandaging systems

AQUACEL Extra vs. Standard AQUACEL — Which Is Right?

Not sure whether AQUACEL Extra, standard AQUACEL, or AQUACEL Ag is the right dressing for your wound? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Choosing the Right Size

• 2×2 Inch (420671) — Small wounds, pressure injuries in compact locations, single-use on minor wounds or as a precise cut-to-fit for narrow wound beds
• 4×5 Inch (420674) — The most versatile size for standard pressure ulcer, leg ulcer, and surgical wound management — sufficient coverage for most mid-size wounds
• 6×6 Inch (420673) — Large wounds, heavily exuding wounds requiring maximum coverage, or wounds where a larger dressing footprint reduces edge lifting under compression

Application Instructions

1. Cleanse the wound with sterile saline — remove any necrotic tissue or debris as appropriate
2. If packing is needed, first apply AQUACEL Ribbon Dressing per its packaging directions
3. Remove AQUACEL Extra from sterile packaging immediately before use
4. Apply directly to the wound bed — dressing should overlap wound edge by at least 1 cm on all sides
5. If layering for high exudate, apply additional sheets as needed
6. Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing and secure
7. Wear for up to 7 days — change when saturated or as clinically directed
8. Removal: Irrigate with sterile saline if the dressing adheres — remove the gelled dressing in one piece using forceps; rinse wound bed with saline to clear any remaining residue

Why Buy From Medical Department Store?

• 30+ years serving home medical and wound care customers — A+ BBB Rated
• 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor
• Medical supply specialists on the phone, not a call center
• Ships to all 50 states — 5 Southwest Florida locations for local pickup

Questions about AQUACEL Extra or any wound dressing? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.