Preparing for Your Thermography Appointment
Proper preparation helps reduce temporary influences on skin temperature and supports consistent thermal imaging. Please review these instructions before your thermography appointment and contact RefPoint if you have any questions.
1
Leading up to Your Appointment
Help keep your normal skin temperature and circulation as undisturbed as possible before your thermography appointment.
During the 72–24 hours leading up to your appointment, avoid activities or treatments that may temporarily increase circulation, cause inflammation, or otherwise alter the thermal patterns of the area being imaged.
Please avoid:
• Massage or other intensive bodywork involving the area being imaged
• Chiropractic treatment or physical therapy involving the area being imaged
• Acupuncture, dry needling, or similar treatments involving the imaging area
• Sauna, steam room, hot tub, or other prolonged heat exposure
• Tanning or prolonged/strong sun exposure
• Treatments or procedures that may cause temporary redness, irritation, inflammation, or temperature changes in the imaging area
Please contact RefPoint before your appointment if you have recently had surgery, an injury, injection, procedure, significant skin irritation, infection, or another treatment involving the area being examined.
For breast thermography, please tell us about any recent breast procedures, injuries, skin lesions, irritation, or inflammation. Skin inflammation can affect the thermal patterns recorded during your examination.
Continue your normal diet and medications unless your healthcare provider has instructed you otherwise. Do not stop or change a prescribed medication for thermography.
2
The Day of Your Appointment
On the day of your thermography appointment:
• Do not apply lotions, creams, powders, oils, liniments, or similar topical products to the area being imaged.
• Avoid strong or prolonged sun exposure.
For face or neck imaging: Do not apply makeup, facial creams, powders, or ointments. Avoid shaving immediately before your appointment, and do not wear contact lenses to the examination.
3
Before You Arrive
Do not smoke for at least 2 hours before your appointment.
You may eat normally unless you have received separate instructions for another service being performed that day. Avoid very hot or very cold beverages immediately before your appointment.
Wear comfortable clothing that can be removed easily from the area being examined. Jewelry will need to be removed from the imaging area.
For breast thermography, you will remove upper-body clothing and jewelry for imaging. A gown will be provided.
For face or neck imaging, please be prepared to remove eyeglasses and jewelry and secure your hair away from your face and neck.
4
Medications, Treatments & Recent Procedures
Continue taking your medications as normally prescribed. Do not stop or change medication solely for your thermography appointment.
Some medications and treatments may influence thermal patterns, so an accurate health and medication history is important.
Please tell RefPoint about recent:
• Surgery or procedures involving the area being imaged
• Fractures or significant injuries
• Skin reactions, allergies, infections, or lesions
• Physical therapy or other treatment involving the area
• Unusual redness, irritation, inflammation, heat, or cold in the area being examined
These circumstances do not necessarily mean your appointment must be cancelled. Contact us if you are unsure whether something may affect your study.
5
What to Expect When You Arrive
Thermography is non-invasive and non-contact and does not use ionizing radiation.
Before imaging begins, you will uncover the area being examined and be given time for your skin temperature to adjust to the controlled room environment. The room may feel cool during this acclimation period.
Your thermographer will then guide you through the positions needed to obtain your images. Depending on your appointment, your study may include breast imaging, full-body imaging, or a specific region of interest.
The imaging process is straightforward and typically takes approximately 15–40 minutes, although appointment time may vary depending on the study performed.
6
Questions or Special Circumstances?
Not sure whether something could affect your thermography appointment? Please contact RefPoint before your visit.
Reach out if you have recently had a procedure, surgery, significant injury, skin reaction or infection, breast lesion, or treatment involving the area being imaged—or if you are unsure whether you have followed the preparation instructions correctly.
We would rather answer your question beforehand than have you arrive uncertain about whether your study can be performed as scheduled.
RefPoint
(509) 706-1310
info@refpointdirect.com