Before coming for your appointment
- Avoid taking calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before your body composition scan. If unsure, do clarify with your doctor before coming for your appointment.
- Do inform your doctor if you recently had a:
- barium-related study done
- contrast- related study done i.e. CT scan or MRI scan
- radionuclide-related study done i.e. Nuclear Medicine scan
- have any metal implants in your spine or hip
This is because the barium/ contrast/ radionuclide materials/ metal implants in your body might interfere with the results of your body composition scan. Do check with us if in doubt and we will advise accordingly.
Before the scan
- Wear loose comfortable plain clothing, preferably without any metallic objects, buttons or zippers. If required, you will be asked to change into an examination gown.
- If you are wearing your own clothing for the scan, remove all objects from your pockets. You will be given a locker to keep them in.
- Female patients must inform the radiographer if they are pregnant or suspect that they may be pregnant.
- Your height and weight will be taken before the scan.
During the scan
- You will be made to lie on a padded examination couch and a mechanical arm will pass over your body during the scan.
- You will not feel anything during the scan and the amount of radiation you will be exposed to is very low.
- The scan should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
After the scan
- Since the body composition scan is carried out as an outpatient procedure, you can go home after the scan and resume normal activities.
- We will send a finalized report to the clinic or doctor who arranged the scan.
- It usually takes 1-2 working days for the results of the scan to be ready.
- An urgent report on the same day is possible but an additional fee will be charged.
Find out more about Body Composition >