One of the most common worries before aesthetic treatment is discomfort. Lip filler, device treatments and denser injectable sessions can feel sharper than people expect if anaesthesia is an afterthought. A nerve block is one of the tools we use at Dr Ed Robinson Clinics so selected treatments are more comfortable.
Dr Ed, a GMC-registered doctor with a background in anaesthesia, places every nerve block himself, often with ultrasound guidance. We do this at Hale, and at Harley Street for injectable pathways. Lasers and energy devices such as Ultherapy and HALO are at Hale, not on Harley Street.
This piece is the plain-English version: how blocks work, where they help, and what “more comfortable” actually means. For the full treatment overview, start with our nerve blocks page.
What is a nerve block in aesthetics?
A nerve block is a small injection of local anaesthetic placed next to a nerve so the area that nerve supplies goes numb for a short time. Cream numbs the surface. A block quiets a wider territory, which is why it helps for lips, under-eyes, selected device treatments, and sweating injections in the palms or soles.
It does not wipe out every sensation. Many people feel pressure once the area is numb. Everyone is different. A block is optional, never essential.
Lip filler and the dental-style block
Lips are one of the more sensitive areas we treat. Even when filler contains local anaesthetic, some people still find the injections sharp. For lips we use infraorbital and mental nerve blocks, the same nerves a dentist numbs, given with a fine needle through the skin rather than from inside the mouth.
Once numb, many patients notice only mild pressure. If comfort is high on your list for lip filler, ask about a block at consultation. Details live on the nerve blocks page.
Ultherapy, HALO and other device pathways
Focused ultrasound and laser or light treatments can feel intense in places. Where appropriate we use nerve blocks so Ultherapy Prime and HALO Tribrid are more comfortable. Those energy devices are Hale only.
Sweating treatment and regenerative injectables
Palm and sole sweating injections are uncomfortable for a simple reason: those areas are packed with nerve endings. Wrist and ankle blocks can numb the palms and soles for excessive sweating treatment. For skin-quality pathways such as polynucleotides, a block can also make multi-point injections more comfortable when we agree it is suitable.
What to expect
Numbness typically lasts about thirty minutes, sometimes up to an hour. There is no separate nerve-block price list. Comfort sits inside the plan we discuss at consultation. Suitability comes first. If a block is not right for you, we will say so.
FAQs
Does a nerve block remove all sensation?
No. It makes many treatments more comfortable. Sensation varies between people and areas. We never promise treatment without any sensation, and we never describe treatment as painless.
Are nerve blocks safe?
They have been used in medicine and dentistry for decades. When a doctor gives them after a full medical history, serious problems are uncommon. Short-lived bruising or tenderness can happen, and we explain that at consultation.
Can I drive afterwards?
Usually yes, if you feel comfortable. The numbness is localised. Use your judgement on the day.
Book a consultation
If comfort has been holding you back, book a consultation or WhatsApp us on 0161 399 0631. We can talk through whether a nerve block suits the treatment you have in mind. More detail sits on our nerve blocks for more comfortable aesthetic treatments page.