Local anaesthetic and PRP are not a simple yes-or-no combination. Numbing the skin before an injection is different from mixing an anaesthetic directly into the platelet preparation. Laboratory studies have produced different findings with different medicines, concentrations and tests. They do not establish that every numbing technique either ruins PRP or guarantees an equally effective treatment.
If discomfort is the reason you are hesitating, ask for a specific comfort plan before booking. You should not have to choose between an unsupported promise of painless treatment and being told to tolerate pain without discussion.
Does local anaesthetic stop PRP from working?
The honest answer is that the effect depends on what is used and how, and the human-outcome evidence is incomplete. A 2014 laboratory study using PRP from nine healthy volunteers found reduced platelet aggregation when local anaesthetics were combined with PRP, but did not find an effect on the growth-factor release measured in that experiment. [1]
A later laboratory study published in 2021 assessed different platelet-health measures. Bupivacaine was harmful in the tested conditions, while lidocaine and ropivacaine were closer to saline in most assays, apart from some mitochondrial stress. Those results show why the specific drug, dilution and outcome measured matter. They do not prove identical clinical hair-growth or joint-pain outcomes in patients. [2]
Want to understand the proposed approach? Ask The London PRP Clinic about your treatment area and comfort options. The team should explain what is planned before you commit to a course.
Is skin numbing the same as mixing anaesthetic into PRP?
No. A cream applied to the skin, a local injection into superficial tissue and an anaesthetic mixed directly into the PRP syringe are different methods of exposure. The site of treatment also matters. A scalp procedure is not the same as an injection into a knee or a tendon.
The 2014 study discusses separating the anaesthetic and PRP sites to avoid direct contact. That is a clinical consideration, not a DIY instruction or proof that every separate-site technique has been tested in outcome trials. [1]
Ask the clinician to describe the exact method in plain language: what medicine, where it goes, whether it contacts the PRP and why that choice fits the proposed procedure. "We numb everyone" is not enough detail to answer the interaction question.
Why do research papers appear to disagree?
Experiments can use different concentrations, contact times, platelet preparations and endpoints. Platelet aggregation, cell viability, growth-factor release and a person's improvement after treatment are related questions, but they are not interchangeable measurements. [1,2]
It is therefore too strong to say that all anaesthetics destroy PRP. It is also too strong to say that laboratory reassurance proves a particular mixture is clinically equivalent. A careful clinician distinguishes a theoretical concern, an experimental finding and evidence about actual patients.
A GRIIP consensus presentation on knee osteoarthritis advises against mixing PRP with intra-articular anaesthetic or corticosteroid, while identifying this as expert-opinion-level guidance. This is useful context for a knee discussion, not a universal rule for scalp creams or every PRP procedure. [3]
What should a good comfort discussion cover?
Before booking, explain previous fainting, needle anxiety, an unusually painful injection, allergies or a reaction to a local anaesthetic. The clinician needs this information to assess what is suitable.
Ask:
- Which parts of the appointment are likely to be uncomfortable?
- What numbing or other comfort measures are available for this treatment area?
- Will an anaesthetic be mixed with the PRP or used separately?
- Are there reasons a particular option is unsuitable for me?
- Can we agree a pause signal and what happens if I cannot continue?
- Who should I contact if pain worsens after treatment?
The right plan should be specific enough that you know what you are consenting to. A familiar marketing phrase such as "virtually painless" cannot promise your experience.
Should I take painkillers before PRP?
Ask the treating clinician for instructions based on your medicines, health and procedure. Do not stop anticoagulants, prescribed aspirin or another essential medicine because a general article or clinic leaflet says to avoid anti-inflammatory drugs. The risk of changing prescribed treatment may be more important than a theoretical effect on PRP.
Do not self-apply a numbing product to the treatment site without the clinic's agreement. It may be unsuitable for the area or alter the planned preparation. Tell the team what you have already taken or applied.
If sedation is proposed, ask about its risks, monitoring, escort and driving restrictions. Sedation should not be assumed to be included or appropriate merely because you are anxious.
What pain after PRP should prompt advice?
Some local discomfort can occur after an injection, but a clinic should provide a clear aftercare plan and a route for concerns. Do not assume that increasing pain is proof that the treatment is working.
Severe or worsening pain, spreading redness, fever, marked swelling or loss of function should prompt medical advice. A suddenly hot, swollen joint or feeling acutely unwell needs urgent assessment. If there are signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as breathing difficulty or facial or throat swelling, seek emergency help.
How do I compare clinics without buying a promise?
Ask for the exact procedure and a complete quote, rather than paying more simply because a clinic advertises a pain-free or premium technique. A good discussion includes suitability, realistic benefit, alternatives, the comfort method, aftercare and a review point.
The London PRP Clinic's services page lists its treatment options. It is not a guarantee of a particular anaesthetic protocol, and a hair-treatment price should not be used as a quote for a joint injection. Confirm the relevant plan and any additional fees in writing before booking.
For an executive fitting care around work or travel, knowing what to expect and who to call afterwards is more useful than an unrealistic promise of no discomfort or no downtime.
Common questions
Can I ask for numbing without committing to treatment? Yes. Discuss the plan before deciding whether to book. A suitability discussion should allow time for questions.
Does no anaesthetic mean better PRP? Not automatically. A claim of superiority needs clinical evidence, not only a laboratory mechanism.
Does a topical cream have the same effect as an injected mixture? They are different exposures. Do not transfer results from one technique directly to another.
What should I tell the clinic first? Your treatment area, previous reactions, fainting or needle anxiety, current medicines and the concern you want addressed.
Discuss suitability and comfort with the clinic, or email team@thewellnesslondon.com. A clear plan should come before payment for a course.
Ask the team on WhatsApp, or call +44 20 3951 3429 to discuss the appropriate next step.
Evidence and further reading
- Bausset and colleagues. Impact of local anaesthetics and needle calibres used for painless PRP injections on platelet functionality. Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 2014. Laboratory study, not a patient-outcome trial.
- Dregalla and colleagues. Effect of local anesthetics on platelet physiology and function. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2021. Laboratory comparison; results depend on the tested conditions.
- GRIIP. Consensus statement on intra-articular PRP for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, conference presentation available in a university repository, checked October 2026. Expert guidance, not a clinical trial.
General information, not individual medical advice. Evidence checked 31 October 2026. PRP is not suitable for everyone and results are not guaranteed.