Depending on the reason for your ultrasound examination, your doctor will guide you in how to prepare for the procedure. For example, you may be asked to fast for 12 hours prior to your ultrasound if your abdomen is being examined, as undigested food will block sound waves making it challenging for the technician to get a clear view of your abdomen. At your exam, you may be asked to change into a provided medical garment, depending on what part of the body is being examined. You will then be asked to lay down on a table, exposing the section of your body to be viewed. Your sonographer, (the occupational name for the technician performing the ultrasound) will apply a clear, odorless gel to your skin to prevent friction of the ultrasound device on the surface of your skin and to help transmit the sound waves. The high-frequency sound waves sent through the device echo as they hit a dense object like a bone or an organ, and reflect those echo sound waves back to a computer, forming an image. The image is viewed and interpreted by the sonographer, and they will share the results with your doctor. When complete, the gel will be cleaned off and you will be free to go about your day. Your doctor will review the images for abnormalities and contact you to discuss the findings, and schedule a follow-up appointment if necessary. SoCal Urgent Care provides onsite ultrasound exams, allowing for a quick turnaround for your results to get back to your doctor.