Your comfort matters, and knowing what to expect makes all the difference!

Whether you’re coming in for breast thermography or a full-body examination, my goal is to make your experience comfortable, professional, and informative.

Here’s a little walk-through of your appointment, from booking to receiving your report.

1. Before Your Appointment

Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email and intake forms through To The Core Pilates & Nutrition, where my clinic is located.

You’ll also receive preparation instructions to help minimize temporary influences on your skin temperature.

Please take a few minutes to review these before your visit. Proper preparation helps us capture consistent, high-quality thermal images.

2. Arriving at the Clinic

When you arrive, I’ll welcome you into my private imaging room, review your health history, and answer any questions before we begin.

There’s no need to feel rushed or nervous. I’ll explain each step so you know what’s happening throughout the examination.

3. Getting Ready for Your Images

Thermography requires direct imaging of the skin, so clothing needs to be removed from the areas being examined.

Breast thermography: You’ll undress from the waist up.

Full-body thermography: You’ll undress completely, including underwear, so the camera can capture unobstructed temperature patterns from head to toe.

You’ll have privacy to change, and your comfort and dignity are always priorities.

Before imaging, you’ll spend approximately 15 minutes allowing your skin temperature to adjust to the controlled temperature of the room.

4. Capturing Your Thermal Images

Once you’re ready, I’ll guide you through a series of positions while the infrared camera captures images from different angles.

The camera doesn’t touch your body, and there’s no compression, radiation, or injections.

The imaging itself is quick and painless. Most of your appointment is spent preparing, acclimatizing, and ensuring we capture the images needed for your examination.

5. The Cold Challenge - Breast Imaging

For breast thermography, I include a cold challenge as part of my imaging protocol.

After your initial images, you’ll place your hands in cool water for approximately 60 seconds.

I’ll then capture another series of images to document how your surface temperature patterns respond to cooling.

This provides additional thermal images for comparison during interpretation.

If you have Raynaud’s phenomenon, cold sensitivity, or circulation concerns, please let me know before we begin.

6. After Your Examination

Once your images are complete, you’re free to get dressed and continue with your day. There’s no recovery time required.

Your images are securely submitted to a board certified thermologist for interpretation and preparation of your written report.

Reports are typically available within approximately 14 days.

7. Reviewing Your Results Together

This is an important part of the experience!

When your report is ready, I’ll contact you to arrange a complimentary review, either in person or remotely.

We’ll look at your thermal images, go through the report terminology, and discuss any questions you may have.

If your report recommends medical follow-up, I’ll encourage you to discuss those findings with your healthcare provider.

I want you to leave understanding what your images show and what the report means, without feeling overwhelmed.

How Long Does an Appointment Take?

Appointment times vary depending on the examination you’ve chosen.

● Breast thermography: Approximately 45 minutes

● Cranial/Dental/Thyroid: Approximately 45 minutes

● Combination examinations: Approximately 60 minutes

● Full-body thermography: Approximately 90 minutes

These times include preparation, acclimatization, and imaging.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

Things like exercise, lotions, sun exposure, and restrictive clothing can temporarily influence skin temperature.

Please review the Breast Imaging Instructions before your appointment, along with any additional instructions provided for your examination.

If you’re unsure about anything, just ask!

Colette Dixon, CTT