The scale lies.
DEXA doesn't.
A DEXA scan gives you precise measurements of body fat, lean muscle mass, bone density, and visceral fat — the numbers your doctor has never ordered, and the ones that actually explain how your body is functioning.
The Framework
Twelve years of practice, distilled into The Meliora Method.™
Why body composition matters more than weight.
Two people can weigh exactly the same and have completely different health profiles. One may carry 35% body fat, low muscle mass, and high visceral fat — a pattern associated with insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular risk. The other may carry 18% body fat, strong lean mass, and healthy bone density.
The scale shows the same number for both. Your BMI shows the same number for both. DEXA shows the truth.
At Meliora, we use DEXA not just as a measurement tool but as a clinical anchor. Your body composition data directly informs your hormone protocol, your metabolic treatment plan, and your supplement regimen. It's the difference between guessing and knowing.
Your Report
Five numbers that change how you understand your body.
Body Fat Percentage
Not just total fat — broken down by region (trunk, arms, legs). Reveals where fat is stored and how it shifts over time.
Lean Muscle Mass
How much muscle you have, and where. Critical for understanding metabolic health, aging, and the effectiveness of your training or treatment.
Bone Mineral Density
Your bone strength and fracture risk, measured with precision. Especially important for women entering perimenopause or post-menopause.
Visceral Fat Score
The fat surrounding your organs — the most metabolically dangerous type. Invisible on the outside, and the most important number to track.
Resting Metabolic Rate (add-on)
How many calories your body burns at rest. Paired with DEXA, it answers the question every patient asks: "Why isn't the scale moving?"
The Meliora Difference
Your scan, read with you.
Most clinics hand you a printout and send you home. We don't. Your DEXA report is reviewed with you by Dr. Chua — region by region, in the context of your hormones, your training, and how you actually feel.
- A side-by-side walkthrough of body fat, lean mass, visceral fat, and bone density
- Optimal ranges — not just population averages
- What your numbers mean for your symptoms or training goals
- A clear next step, whether you become a patient now or later
Who Benefits
A DEXA scan is not just for athletes.
Women in perimenopause or menopause
Hormonal changes shift fat from subcutaneous to visceral and accelerate bone loss — often years before symptoms are obvious. A DEXA gives you the data to act before those changes compound.
Anyone who exercises but can't see results
The scale is a terrible tool. You may be losing fat and building muscle simultaneously — the scale won't show it, but DEXA will. Many patients discover they've been making progress they couldn't see.
Weight loss patients
Track what actually matters: are you losing fat or muscle? Losing muscle while dieting is common and harmful. DEXA tells you exactly what's changing and lets us adjust your protocol accordingly.
Athletes and performance-focused patients
Optimize your training and recovery with objective body composition data. Know your actual lean-to-fat ratio, identify muscular imbalances, and set measurable performance baselines.
Anyone who wants a health baseline
You can't manage what you don't measure. A baseline DEXA at 40, 45, or 50 gives you something to compare against — so changes don't go undetected until they're significant.
What to Expect
Ten minutes. Fully clothed. Complete picture.
The scan itself takes about 10 minutes. No injections, no preparation, no discomfort.
01
Schedule your scan
Book online or call. The scan itself takes about 10 minutes. We recommend arriving without lotion or metal accessories.
02
The scan
You lie fully clothed on a padded table. A low-dose X-ray arm passes over your body. No injections, no compression, no discomfort. Radiation exposure is minimal — less than a cross-country flight.
03
Your results
Results are available immediately. Dr. Chua reviews your report with you in the context of your clinical picture — not just as numbers, but as a story about your metabolic health.
04
A plan built from your data
DEXA findings directly inform your treatment plan. Bone density guides hormone and supplement decisions. Body composition data guides metabolic and weight protocols. The scan pays for itself in clinical precision.
Recommended Add-On
Pair your DEXA with a Resting Metabolic Rate test.
DEXA tells you what your body is made of. RMR testing tells you how efficiently it burns energy. Together, they answer the question most patients have been asking for years: “I eat well and I exercise. Why can't I lose weight?”
Most patients are surprised to find their metabolism is running significantly slower than expected — a pattern directly tied to hormonal imbalance, nutrient deficiency, or muscle loss. Knowing your RMR lets us build a metabolic protocol that works with your biology, not against it.
Especially Important for Women Over 40
Bone density loss begins before menopause.
Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years following menopause. But the process begins earlier — in perimenopause, as estrogen starts to fluctuate. Most women don't find out until a fracture occurs or a DEXA scan is finally ordered in their 60s.
At Meliora, we believe in measuring bone density before it becomes a problem — not after. Your DEXA baseline informs your hormone protocol and supplement regimen in ways that directly protect your bone health long-term.
Common questions.
Scheduling
DEXA scheduling is opening soon.
We're putting the final pieces in place — including the team to run every scan properly.
Booking opens soon
Online scheduling for DEXA Scan isn't open just yet.
We're bringing on the team to run every appointment the Meliora way. You don't need to be a Meliora patient — leave your details below and our team will reach out to schedule your DEXA Scan or answer any questions. Prefer to talk? Call (847) 440-4355.