Tell the clinic about a previous reaction to local anaesthetic before booking a PRP procedure. The useful next step is to establish what happened, which product was used and whether an allergy assessment or a different procedure plan is needed. Do not assume that feeling faint proves an allergy, or that a past reaction can safely be dismissed as anxiety.
A local anaesthetic is a numbing medicine. It is different from PRP itself, and the planned anaesthetic technique may differ between a scalp procedure and a joint or tendon injection. Ask what would actually be used for your treatment rather than relying on the label 'PRP appointment'.
Describe the event in detail
Write down where and when the reaction happened, what treatment you were having and how soon symptoms began. Describe the symptoms in your own words, how long they lasted, what treatment was given and whether you attended hospital. Bring a discharge summary, allergy letter or record of the product if available.
A note saying only 'allergic to injections' may not identify the relevant substance. The active medicine, preservatives, other ingredients and other products used during the procedure may all need consideration. Do not remove an allergy label yourself because an internet article says true allergy is uncommon.
Contact The London PRP Clinic before arranging a procedure. Explain the previous reaction and send the relevant records through the route the team provides. A review should happen before a treatment-day decision leaves little time to clarify the history.
Similar experiences can have different causes
Faintness, a racing heart, unpleasant sensations and an allergic reaction are not interchangeable diagnoses. The NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service describes psychological reactions, medicine effects, toxicity and hypersensitivity in the context of dental local anaesthesia. That guidance helps explain why the event needs detail; it does not diagnose what happened during your procedure.
A clinical review of local anaesthetic allergy also emphasises a detailed history. It describes specialist testing pathways for suspected immediate and delayed reactions. The fact that true allergy is rare does not establish that your own reaction was harmless or that the same product should be used again.
If you currently have breathing difficulty, throat or facial swelling, collapse or another severe reaction, seek emergency help immediately. This is not something to settle through a routine PRP booking enquiry.
Allergy testing is a specialist decision
If the history suggests allergy, the appropriate clinician may recommend specialist assessment before an elective procedure. Skin testing or a supervised challenge is not something to try at home or by applying a small amount of numbing cream yourself. The testing method depends on the reaction being investigated.
A clinician should explain whether the procedure should wait, whether a different approach is possible and what information is still needed. Do not accept a blanket reassurance that all numbing medicines are the same, or that switching to another product is automatically safe.
This article does not establish that The London PRP Clinic provides allergy testing, sedation or a particular alternative anaesthetic. Those arrangements need confirmation for the actual case.
Clarify the whole proposed procedure
Ask which numbing medicine, if any, would be used; where it would be applied or injected; and whether it would be separate from the PRP preparation. A topical cream, a skin injection and mixing a substance into a syringe are different exposures. The person planning the procedure should account for your history across all of them.
Ask about other materials used, such as skin-cleaning products and dressings, if these have caused reactions before. Bring an accurate medicine and allergy list. Explain previous fainting or needle anxiety as well, because a comfort and positioning plan may still be useful even when allergy is not the explanation.
Do not self-apply a numbing product before arrival unless the treating team has specifically agreed it. It could be unsuitable or complicate the planned assessment. Do not change prescribed medicines on the basis of general advice about PRP.
Consent should include a practical comfort and safety plan
Before proceeding, understand what is expected to be uncomfortable, the agreed comfort measures and how to ask for a pause. Ask what would happen if the planned technique cannot be used or you decide not to continue. Confirm any assessment, testing, cancellation and procedure charges before making a commitment.
The plan should identify the aftercare route and symptoms that need urgent attention. A clear explanation of uncertainty is more useful than a promise of pain-free treatment or no allergy risk.
Discuss the next step with The London PRP Clinic. The aim is a suitable, informed procedure decision, which may include postponing treatment until the reaction history has been clarified.
Evidence and scope
General information, not an allergy diagnosis or clearance for a procedure. Sources checked 6 November 2026. The SPS source concerns dental practice; it supports distinguishing types of reaction, not assuming the same products or protocols for PRP.
Clinical review: allergy to local anaesthetics, diagnosis and management.
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service: reactions to dental local anaesthetic injections.