How to Prepare for Your Thermogram
For 24 hours prior to your scan please avoid:
- Heavy exercise
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Sauna or steam room
- Heavy sun exposure
For 2 hours prior to your scan:
- Avoid exercise and hot or cold showering.
- Do not shave your face or under your arms (or use deodorant, skin creams or lotion in the areas to be imaged).
- Please forego the heated car seat
- Avoid chewing gum during scan
- Avoid alcohol
For best result, you should not have had a sun burn or have used a tanning booth within a week of your test.
Please inform the thermographer before your appointment if you have recent skin lesions (rashes, cuts or abrasions) as the resulting inflammation might cause a false positive result.
No changes in diet or medication are necessary.
Length of session varies according to complexity of health issues. Usually takes just under an hour.
Procedure for Breast Thermography
Your initial appointment will last close to one hour. Subsequent appointments will take half an hour or less.
The thermographer will review your history and breast questionnaire with you prior to your scan. After discussing your history and answering any questions you might have, images will be taken of your breasts and surrounding area. The procedure is entirely non-invasive. There is no contact with the body at any time and the camera emits no radiation. You will be asked to pin hair back and remove all upper body clothing and jewelry. A gown or sarong will be supplied.
You are welcome to bring a companion or partner to be present during imaging.
Procedure for Full Body Thermography
This procedure is totally painless and there is no compression or contact with the body. The test is non invasive, uses no radiation, and is F.D.A registered.
The patient is welcomed to the practice and given an intake questionnaire and the HIPPA (patient privacy) forms to sign. This is a good time to ask any questions about the procedure.
The next step is for the patient to disrobe down to the under pants and put on a lightweight gown. This allows for the body to acclimatize to the ambient temperature of the clinic before imaging begins.
Patient information relating to symptoms and history is taken, this focuses on the primary complaints and concerns of the patient.
A full explanation is given before the imaging is started so that the patient understands what is going to take place. The patient is reassured that there is no radiation, no contact with the body and that nothing will be felt.
The test will involve a number of views being taken, each view only takes a couple of seconds, so the whole exam will be completed in a few minutes. We require the patient to remain as still as possible for the couple of seconds that the image is taken but it is not necessary to hold the breath.
We routinely take an anterior view followed by both lateral views and then a posterior view, sometimes oblique views are included.
The head and chest views are routinely taken in the seated position and the abdomen and legs, in the standing position.
The test is just like having your photograph taken, a thermographer focuses the scanner and takes an image which is saved onto the computer to be sent to a doctor for interpretation and reporting.
Once all images have been taken, the thermographer reviews the images with the patient and explains what the colors mean and what to expect from the written report which will be provided within a couple of days (urgent reports are completed sooner).
Your report will provide useful information relating to your physiological status (or function of the body). The interpreting doctor will identify any significant findings that relate to your symptoms and history and give a report that may include recommendations for further testing that will help your treating doctor or healthcare practitioner avoid unnecessary testing.
Note: you must wait 3 months after giving birth, ceasing lactation, or major breast surgery before getting a thermogram due to hormonal changes.
