Private DEXA Scans
Get speedy access to private bone density and body composition DEXA scans near you. It’s quick, simple, and affordable, and you can self-refer today.
- UK's largest imaging network
- Clinical advice included
- No GP referral needed
- Rapid results
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Bone Density DEXA
A test to check your bone density, and diagnose conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia.
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Body Composition DEXA
This scan measures the composition and distribution of fat, muscle, and bone in your body.
Not sure what scan you need?
Book a consultation call with our clinicians for advice, and receive a discount if you decide to go ahead with a scan.
Go to consultation pageHow it works
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1
Booking & referral
Choose the scan type and location that works for you, compare prices, and book online in minutes.
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2
Scan confirmation
Have a pre-scan clinician consultation call, followed by a call from the scanning site to confirm your appointment.
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3
Have your scan
Visit your selected scanning centre and have your bone density or body composition DEXA scan.
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4
Receive your results
We'll email your scan report to you, and a post-scan clinician call is included to discuss the results and next steps.
DEXA Scan Costs
When you book a private DEXA scan with Scan.com you'll receive a full end-to-end package of care for £125. The cost of a DEXA scan varies depending on the type of examination and the pricing set by the individual scanning centres.
Private DEXA Scan
Starting from
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Quick and easy referral process, with support from a dedicated expert clinician
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Your DEXA scan, at a selected location near you
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Digital access to your radiologist's report, and the option to request copies of your images as required
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If there are any next steps or adverse findings, our expert clinicians will provide a post-scan phone consultation to explain your DEXA scan results
Putting your health in your hands
It's your health. It's your money. It's your time.
Scan.com makes sure it's your choice.
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Cannot fault the service
I have recommended Scan.com to lots of people. Very professional and quick. Lovely warm, welcoming staff and really good price too.
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Quite EXCELLENT
The whole process from booking to having the images and report in the right hands could not have been faster. The price was hugely competitive too!
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Absolutely fantastic service
Half the price of previous MRIs I had, and they couldn't have been more helpful.
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Very impressed with Scan.com
The booking of the appointment was easy, the results came back in two days. All in all I was extremely impressed and can absolutely recommend Scan.com.
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What is a DEXA scan, and how does it work?
A Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (also known as a bone densitometry, DEXA or DXA scan) is a low-dose form of an X-ray.
A DEXA machine has a scanning arm that moves over you while you are lying down. It emits low-dose X-rays at varying strengths (dual energy), which pass through different tissues more easily than others.
This creates images of the bones to check their density, or allows a full assessment of your body composition and location of fat and muscle.
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What does a DEXA scan show?
DEXA scans have two main uses. A Bone Density DEXA is used to check the density (strength) of your bones and assess your risk of osteoporosis - a condition that can cause brittle, weak bones and make you prone to breaks and fractures.
A Body Composition DEXA scan (body fat scan) is used to measure the composition of fat, lean soft tissue, and bone mineral density of your whole body.
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How long does a DEXA scan take?
A DEXA scan can create an image in less than a minute, but the entire test can take around 20 minutes. This is because you may need to be positioned differently between images, or have more than one body area scanned. In order to create a bone density measurement score, your height and weight will also need to be measured.
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What do I need to wear for a DEXA scan?
We recommend wearing soft, comfortable clothing with no metal fastenings such as hooks, zips or buttons for your DEXA scan. This is so that you can lie down comfortably on the padded table, and no metal objects will obstruct or reduce the quality of the images. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown.
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Are DEXA scans accurate?
A DEXA scan is considered the Gold Standard test to measure both bone density and body composition. They provide a high level of accuracy and detail about your body composition, and are the recommended imaging test for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis.
Frequently asked questions
See a few of our most frequent asks. Have more questions? We'd love to help.
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DEXA scans do cause ionising radiation exposure, though the risks are extremely low. Tests using ionising radiation, such as a CT scan or DEXA scan are generally not recommended for pregnant women unless the benefits strongly outweigh the risks of not having the test. This is because an unborn baby is at an increased risk of being affected by the radiation, though the assumed risk to a foetus is still extremely low.
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Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones and puts you at a higher risk of broken bones and fractures. Risk factors for developing osteoporosis include a family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures, low body weight or BMI, or if you already have rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, or chronic liver disease. Bone density tests like DEXA scans can help assess and monitor your risk of osteoporosis. This is important as it's not usually clear whether someone has osteoporosis until they suffer a break or fracture, from even a minor fall or incident.
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A key benefit of booking with Scan.com is that you do not need a GP referral to access our services. There is also no self-referral process. Instead, our in-house medical team will contact you once you have booked and made payment for your scan. Our clinicians will ask you for all of the relevant information they need to compile a referral on your behalf, which is then passed on to your chosen scanning site.
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Yes, we do offer cancellations and refunds, though depending on the status of your booking this may incur a £50 cancellation fee. For more information, visit our terms and conditions.
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A DEXA scan in the UK usually costs around £125. To find out how much a DEXA scan near you is, simply complete a search on our website. We'll show you all of the DEXA scan costs and locations in your area.