What to Expect at Your First DEXA Scan

If you’ve never had a DEXA scan, here’s exactly what happens. There’s very little to it, and nothing to worry about.

Before you come in. There’s no fasting and no special preparation. Keep your normal routine. The one thing that helps is consistency: if you plan to scan again later to track change, try to come in under similar conditions each time (for example, a similar time of day and hydration) so your scans are comparable. Wear comfortable, everyday clothing without metal (no zippers, buttons, underwire, or metal fasteners in the scan area), since metal can interfere with the measurement. Many people wear athletic wear. You’ll be asked to remove jewelry and anything with metal from your pockets.

During the scan. You lie on your back on a padded, open table. There’s no tunnel or enclosure, so it’s comfortable even if you don’t like tight spaces. A scanner arm passes slowly over you while you stay still. That’s it. The scan itself takes roughly ten minutes, and you stay fully clothed. It’s painless, and you won’t feel anything.

What about radiation? A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of radiation: an effective dose of roughly 1 to 5 µSv on our GE Lunar Prodigy, about the same as 3 to 15 hours of ordinary background radiation, and a small fraction of a chest X-ray or a transatlantic flight. As a precaution, scans aren’t performed during pregnancy.

Afterward. Your scan is read by a physician, and your results are reviewed with you, in plain language, not handed over as a printout to decode alone. You leave with a clear report that’s yours to keep and to share with your own clinicians if you choose.

Do you need a referral? No outside referral is needed. In Pennsylvania every DEXA scan requires a physician order, and because Wayne DEXA is physician-owned, that order is handled in-house. You simply book.