Scheduling a doctor’s appointment is daunting enough, but scheduling your first full-body MRI scan? Well, in the words of our favorite character from The Princess Bride, “Inconceivable!” But it’s up to you to take control of your healthcare journey.
Scheduling any sort of healthcare appointment is intimidating because we never know what to expect from the moment we walk through those doors.
Well, not anymore! At MRI Wellness, our goal is to remove the intimidation and anxiety surrounding what to expect during your first full-body scan.
Keep reading as we break down a full-body MRI scan and what happens before, during, and after your first appointment!
What is a Full-body MRI Scan?
Before we start to unpack what happens on the day of your first scan, it’s important to understand what a full-body scan actually does.
A full-body MRI scan, also called a whole-body MRI, uses an imaging machine to scan the body’s internal structure, from your head down to your toes!
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine with a table that slowly moves inside the tube. As your body moves within the scanner, a combination of radio waves and a magnetic field creates images of the inside of your body.
What Does a Full-Body Scan Detect?
When assessed by a radiologist, a full-body MRI scan will detect any abnormalities in your brain, neck, spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
In the brain, the scan may detect tumors, brain volume loss, and aneurysms. In the neck, the test may show enlarged lymph nodes, signs of throat cancer, or other tumors and cysts. In the spine and chest, an MRI scan will detect signs of multiple sclerosis, lung cancer, degenerative disc disease, and other forms of cancer. Moving down to the abdomen and pelvis, a full-body MRI can spot signs of liver and kidney damage, various tumors, endometriosis, enlarged spleen, or prostate, among others.
What to Do Before Your Scan
Before your first whole-body MRI scan, make sure you understand the key details about our three-business-day cancellation policy, as it becomes non-refundable after this period.
How Much Does a Full-Body MRI Cost?
Whole-body MRI scans are a fairly new form of advanced imaging process used for general screening. Therefore, it is not a service typically covered by health insurance plans. However, you do have some options available to you!
We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Affirm financing, and cash to pay for your imaging exam.
We are in the process of establishing a financing program to make payments easier for you and your budget.
Prepping Before Your Scan
Before you embark into the future of healthcare technology, we recommend fasting for 4 hours prior to your scan, as images may be affected if your stomach is full of your daily eggs and toast.
Before your MRI, we ask that you bring a list of current prescription medications and supplements to your appointment.
Don’t worry about finding the perfect outfit for your scan – we’ve got you covered! We will provide a set of scrubs to ensure maximum comfort and relaxation. However, given that the scanner uses magnetic fields, we ask that you remove any metal prior to your scan, such as jewelry, watches, or other metallic accessories.
Please let our MRI team know of any of the following implants prior to your scan, as some can interfere with the MRI machine:
- Pacemakers
- Implantable infusion pump
- Cochlear implant
- Prosthetic implant
- Implanted neurostimulator
- IUD
- Intracranial aneurysm clip
- Dental implants
What to Expect the Day of the Scan
On the day of your scan, we aim to ensure you are as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Our team will provide you with a set of comfortable scrubs and headphones so you can listen to music and escape during your scan.
Once in the exam room, you will lie face-up on the table and slide smoothly into the scanner. The MRI machine can be loud, so don’t be frightened if you hear clicking or thumping noises – it’s just the machine taking some pictures of your internal organs!
If you begin to feel claustrophobic or have questions during the scan, there will be a two-way intercom throughout the procedure, so you will always have contact with your MRI technologist!
How Long Does a Full-Body MRI Take?
Depending on your type of scan, it can last anywhere from 30 to 75 minutes. Here are the types of wellness scans we offer and their estimated length of time:
- Torso MRI scan: Between 30 and 45 minutes
- Brain and Spine Scan: One hour
- Whole Body Scan: Between 60 and 75 minutes
Schedule Your First Whole-Body MRI Scan with MRI Wellness!
Scheduling your first full-body MRI can be intimidating, and the anxiety only increases as you approach the testing day. But don’t worry – our MRI team is here to help!
At MRI Wellness, we work with you to take a proactive approach to your health, providing peace of mind before, during, and long after your scan.
Our Charleston-based MRI center delivers an experience that is engineered for accuracy, speed, safety, and, most importantly, comfort. Our clinic is designed for you to sit back, relax, and let us do the work in your wellness journey.
Schedule your appointment with us online or call us at 1-833-WELLMRI today!
