Before you come to us for a thermal imaging session, it will be very beneficial to understand a little more about the process so that you get the very best value from your scan.

 

Please read, or at least scan this page to understand what you need to do.

 

There are three sections on this page describing preparation, the scan process itself and what happens afterwards.  You can also view the format a report will be generated in to understand what you will be participating in.

Before your scan

The thermal Image scanner will examine the temperature patterns on your skin, so anything which artificially alters any temperatures on the skin is to be avoided. Some are obvious, some maybe not so obvious.

Avoid massage, physical therapy, adjustments, rubbing, scratching or irritating the body before a scan. To explain why, think of the last time you had an itch and scratched your skin. You should have noticed the skin go red afterwards. That redness is a localised form of inflammation. The Thermal scanner will see that as a heat source.

The problem with that is the extra heat of the surface irritation might hide a more subtle heat pattern which might otherwise be seen in the images.

For the same reasons, avoid sunburn, tanning beds etc. If you do get sunburnt before a session, call us and reschedule, as your images would be compromised too badly if you were imaged with sunburn etc.

Avoid tight elastic, clothing, belts etc on the day of the visit for the same reasons as above. Anywhere where the skin has been irritated (like under tight elastic) will leave a red mark, and just as above, that will be seen as a hot pattern by the scanner.  We advise everyone to wear their least firm underwear, rather than their newest.

Avoid smoking for two hours before your visit. Nicotine and some of the other chemicals can substantially alter the way the body works, hiding some things from the scanner, and sometimes even creating false positives (when something is seen in the images but doesn't really exist, at least to that degree).

Prescription medication regimes should not be altered without input from your doctor, but a number of drug families can alter your thermal patterns just as smoking can. If you are taking prescription medications, please let us know at the time of making your appointment and we will schedule you to come in just before a dose is due, minimising any effect that the drugs might have on your images.

Accidents, impact injuries and the like sometimes happen just before a visit. These things will trigger an inflammatory response in the body, and unless they are the reason for the image, they might cover up a more subtle pattern for the problem that you want the answer to. Just call us and reschedule your appointment for a time when the inflammation has died down.

Avoid excessive cooling or heating like having an arm near an open window whilst driving to your appointment or having a heater going full blast on your feet etc. It can take quite a while for these thermal effects to go away. Just remember the last time your feet got cold,.. how long did it take to warm them up again?  We actually had a person come in for an image after sitting in canoe all morning. Their buttocks were so chilled we could not get any useful information from the region.
 

During your scan

The paper work will cover some basic details, like name, address and so on. It will also look at some specific questions regarding your history, and the history of the problem itself.

You will then be shown to a change area, and asked to put on a gown. During the time that you are filling out your paper work and getting changed, your body is acclimating to the temperature of the imaging centre which is normally between 22.2 and 23.2 degrees Celsius.

Michelle will then sit down with you and talk you through the imaging process which you are about to go through.

You are then imaged. When your images are taken, you will be able to see them appearing on a computer screen as they are "developed". Once the image series has been captured and reviewed, you will be shown back to the change area to get re-dressed.

After getting dressed, the only thing left to do is settle the account and let us know whether you want to pick up your report or have us send it out to you. We can also email your images to you or your practitioner, or even burn them onto a CD.
 

After your scan

Because there is no radiation, and Thermal Imaging is completely non-invasive, you can have no ill effects following a Thermal Imaging session, other than possibly getting a little cool during the imaging itself.

Depending on how you asked to receive your report, you should have it within 3-4 working days unless something unusual is happening (like Easter holidays etc.). If you need it faster than this, let us know as we will always try to fit in with our customer's needs.

You will have been asked to nominate how you will receive your report. Your options will have been to collect it personally, have it mailed to you, have it emailed to you, or even have it sent directly to your health practitioner. You can also elect to have an extra copy printed and sent to your practitioner as well as receiving a copy yourself.

To see a sample report, please click here.