What to Expect at Your First DEXA Scan

How long does a DEXA scan appointment take?

Budget about 20 minutes at Desert Dexa. The scan itself is roughly 15 minutes on the table — a little longer for the Combo — and the rest is check-in, positioning and going through your results. There is no separate consultation to book beforehand and no follow-up appointment needed to hear your Total Body numbers.

What do I need to do before I arrive?

Nothing. Eat, drink and take your medications as you normally would — DEXA is not thrown off by a recent meal or your hydration level, which is one of the practical differences between it and the bioimpedance devices built into gym scales.

The only thing that matters is what you wear. Metal sits in the scan field, so leave the zippers, buttons, underwire and belt buckles at home. Leggings or gym shorts with a plain T-shirt are ideal, and a sports bra is preferable. You stay fully clothed for the entire scan.

What happens when I arrive?

You check in, confirm a short set of screening questions, and that is the paperwork. The screening exists because there are a few situations where we will not scan: if you are pregnant or may be pregnant, if you have had a contrast or nuclear medicine study in the past seven days, or if you are above the equipment's weight limit. It takes a couple of minutes.

There is no gown, no changing room and no waiting for a technologist to become free — appointments are booked so the scanner is ready when you are.

What happens during the scan?

You lie on your back on a padded, open table. The technician positions your arms and legs, which matters more than people expect: consistent positioning is part of what makes your second scan comparable to your first. Then a scanner arm passes slowly above you.

Nothing touches you. Nothing is injected. There is no tunnel, no enclosure and no noise beyond a quiet motor, which is the main way a DEXA scan differs from the MRI most people are picturing. Your job is to stay still and breathe normally.

The radiation dose is very low — comparable to what you would get from eating about three bananas — which is why the scan is considered safe for routine use in people who are not pregnant.

When do I get my results?

It depends which scan you booked, and this is worth knowing in advance.

Your Total Body (body composition) results are reviewed with you at the end of the visit. A technician walks you through the report before you leave, so you go home already knowing your body fat percentage, your lean mass by region, your visceral fat and your resting metabolic rate.

The Osteoporosis Screening report works differently, because it is a clinical read rather than a measurement summary. An independent board-certified radiologist interprets your hip and spine scan and writes the report, and it reaches you within about 3 days. That report is designed to hand straight to your physician.

If you book the Combo, you get both: the body composition walkthrough on the day, and the radiologist's bone report a few days later.

Will I understand the report?

The Total Body report runs past 10 pages, which sounds like a lot until you see it laid out. It ships with a guide to interpreting your own results, and the walkthrough at the end of your visit is there to cover the parts that matter most to why you came in. If you want to read ahead, we have written up what is on the body composition report and how to read bone density results separately.

Do I need a referral or insurance?

Neither. Desert Dexa is cash-pay and books directly online — nothing to obtain beforehand, no prior authorization and no claim. That includes the osteoporosis screening scan: most providers make you bring a physician order for it, whereas our own physician orders it here.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. DEXA results should be interpreted alongside your own clinical history. Talk to your physician about decisions relating to your health.

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