Patient Care

Preparing for an Ultrasound

Preparing for an Ultrasound

Ultrasounds are one of the most common medical imaging scans performed across our clinic community. Ultrasounds use high frequency sound waves to produce images of the body. A probe is moved across the skin surface to produce an image on screen.

Prior to your appointment our team will confirm any specific preparation requirements. These vary depending in the area being investigated. For some ultrasounds you may need to fast from food and fluids, whilst some examinations may require you to drink a significant amount of water prior to your arrival, ensuring your bladder is full.

At your appointment you will be asked to sit or lie on the examination bed with the area to be examined exposed. Our Sonographer will apply a gel to the skin, and then place the transducer onto the area using gentle pressure. The transducer is moved across the area with a sliding and rotating action to allow the image to project onto the screen. The sonographer takes still photographs from the moving images on the screen.