A process and apparatus for producing a stabilized product from a pledget, including the steps of providing a pledget, a transfer member having an expandable portion, and a stabilization mold having an interior surface defining an interior cavity. The pledget is pushed into the mold by the transfer member so that the expandable portion is within the interior cavity of the mold. The pledget is compressed in the mold by the transfer member to form a compressed pledget. The expandable portion of the transfer member is expanded to form a seal with the interior surface of said mold. The compressed pledget is stabilized to form a stabilized product, while the compressed pledget is maintained in compression and the expandable portion of the transfer member remains expanded.