A DEXA scan measures body composition — how much of your weight is fat, how much is lean tissue, and how it is distributed. It answers a question the scales cannot: whether the weight you have lost came off as fat or as muscle.
Dr Kumar’s practice offers DEXA body composition assessment as part of preparing for body contouring after major weight loss.
Why it is useful before body contouring
- Muscle loss is common and invisible on the scales. Rapid weight loss of any kind costs lean tissue as well as fat, and a body that has lost a great deal of muscle recovers from surgery less well.
- It shows where fat remains. Fat inside the abdomen does not respond to surgery; fat and skin outside the muscle wall do. Knowing the split informs what surgery can realistically achieve.
- It gives an objective baseline. Repeating it later shows whether stability is genuine, rather than weight holding steady while composition shifts.
- It informs the nutrition plan. Where lean mass is low, protein and resistance training become the priority before an operation.
What it does not do
It does not decide whether you are a candidate, and there is no DEXA result that qualifies you for a Medicare item. The items turn on the functional consequences of redundant skin and on weight stability, not on body composition. The criteria.
It is an input to planning, not a gate.
What the scan involves
| Duration | Around 10 to 15 minutes, lying still on a table |
| What you feel | Nothing — the scanner passes over you |
| Radiation | A very low dose, well below a standard chest X-ray |
| Preparation | Loose clothing without metal; you stay dressed |
| Result | Fat mass, lean mass and distribution, by region |
It is the same technology used for bone density, which is a second reason it is useful in this group — bone health is a genuine consideration after bariatric surgery.
Where it fits in the plan
- Early, while you are establishing whether your weight is stable.
- Alongside bloods — protein, iron, B12 and vitamin D. Nutrition before surgery.
- Repeated where there is a question about whether composition is still changing.
It is particularly worth considering where weight has come off quickly — after a bypass, or on weight-loss medication, where muscle loss can be marked. Body contouring after weight-loss injections.
Common questions
Is it required? No. It is offered where it would help clarify the picture.
Will it change my operation? Not usually the operation itself. It more often changes the preparation and the timing.
Is there a Medicare rebate? Rebates for DEXA are tied to specific bone density indications. Body composition scanning for this purpose is generally not rebated. Ask the practice.
How often should it be repeated? Only where there is a reason — usually a question about stability.
Can scales at home do this? Consumer devices estimate composition from electrical impedance and are not comparable in accuracy.
Next step
Raise it at your consultation if you have lost weight quickly or are concerned about muscle loss. Bring a GP referral — it is required to see Dr Kumar. He consults at Westmead, Penrith and Orange. Call 1300 267 726. There is background on muscle and protein during weight loss at My Weight Loss Journey.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
