My Concierge MD performs DEXA scans in our Beverly Hills office on a GE Lunar Prodigy Advanced scanner. Dr. David Nazarian, a board-certified internal medicine physician, reviews every scan with you, so you don’t need a separate imaging center visit.
Book a DEXA scan or call (310) 299-8959.
What a DEXA scan is
DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, also written DXA) uses two very low-dose X-ray beams to tell bone, fat and lean tissue apart. It’s the standard test for bone density, and the same machine can run a whole-body scan for body composition.
Bone density and osteoporosis
A bone density scan measures the hip and spine and reports two scores:
- T-score compares your bones with a healthy young adult. A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 is osteopenia (low bone mass), and -2.5 or below is osteoporosis.
- Z-score compares you with people your own age and is used for younger adults.
Low bone density usually causes no symptoms until a fracture. Finding it early lets us act with exercise, calcium and vitamin D, and medication when needed.
Who should have a DEXA scan
- Women 65 and older, and younger postmenopausal women with risk factors
- Men and women who have had a fracture from a minor fall
- Anyone on long-term steroids, hormone-blocking treatment or other medicines that thin bone
- People with low body weight, a family history of hip fracture, smoking or heavy alcohol use
- Patients having an executive physical or starting our longevity program
What to expect
You lie still on an open padded table while the scanner arm passes over you. There is no tunnel and no injection. A bone density scan takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and the radiation dose is very low, a small fraction of a standard chest X-ray. Wear clothing without metal, and tell us if you are or may be pregnant or had a barium or contrast study in the past week.
After your scan
Dr. Nazarian explains your scores in context with your labs, medicines and risk factors. Next steps can include strength and balance training, vitamin D and calcium, checking for causes of bone loss, or medication. Repeat scans on the same machine, usually every 1 to 2 years, show whether treatment is working.
Frequently asked questions
Is a DEXA scan safe?
Yes for most people. It uses a very low radiation dose. We don’t scan during pregnancy.
What’s the difference between a DEXA scan and a body composition scan?
Both run on the same DEXA machine. A bone density scan looks at the hip and spine; a body composition scan measures fat and muscle across the whole body. We can do both in one visit.
Does insurance cover a DEXA scan?
Bone density testing is often covered when there is a medical reason. Ask us about your plan and self-pay pricing.
Schedule your DEXA scan at our office at 9301 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 405A, Beverly Hills.