Nerve Blocks for Aesthetic Treatments
A nerve block is a small injection of local anaesthetic placed next to a nerve, so the whole area that nerve supplies goes numb for a short time. At Dr Ed Robinson Clinics, every nerve block is placed by Dr Ed, a GMC-registered doctor with a background in anaesthesia, who uses ultrasound guidance and nerve blocks to make selected treatments more comfortable and more precise.
Nerve blocks can help with lip and dermal filler, tear trough treatment, Morpheus8, erbium laser, HALO and Ultherapy, sweating treatment for the hands and feet, and scalp treatments for hair loss. They are available at our clinic in Hale, near Altrincham, for patients across Cheshire and Manchester, and at 104 Harley Street, London.
At a glance
A few minutes
Local anaesthetic
Feeling returns the same day
Hale and Harley Street
Benefits of Nerve Blocks for Aesthetic Treatments
-
DEEPER, MORE RELIABLE NUMBING
A nerve block numbs the whole area a nerve supplies, not just the surface of the skin, so it works where numbing cream alone can struggle. -
MORE COMFORTABLE TREATMENT
Many people feel only gentle pressure during treatment, which makes filler, deeper laser, Ultherapy and sweating treatment far easier. -
A CALMER EXPERIENCE
If you are nervous about needles or have found treatment uncomfortable before, knowing the area is numb can make a real difference. -
MORE PRECISE WORK
When you are comfortable and relaxed, it is easier to stay still, which helps Dr Ed work carefully and precisely. -
PLACED BY A DOCTOR
Every block is placed by Dr Ed, a GMC-registered doctor with a background in anaesthesia, after a full consultation.
How does a nerve block work?
What a nerve block is
A small amount of local anaesthetic is placed next to the nerve that carries feeling from the treatment area. The nerve stops sending signals for a short time, so the whole area it supplies goes numb, including the deeper layers that numbing cream cannot reach.
Infraorbital and mental nerve blocks
For the lips and lower face, Dr Ed uses infraorbital and mental nerve blocks, often called a dental block because they numb the same nerves a dentist does. Dr Ed places them with a fine needle through the skin rather than from inside the mouth. The infraorbital block numbs the upper lip, the side of the nose, the lower eyelid area and part of the cheek. The mental block numbs the lower lip and chin.
Wrist and ankle blocks
For excessive sweating in the hands and feet, a wrist nerve block numbs the palm and an ankle nerve block numbs the sole, so the many small injections needed are much more comfortable.
Scalp blocks
For hair loss treatment, a scalp nerve block numbs the treatment area before injections or microneedling, so a longer session feels much easier.
Nerve block or numbing cream?
Numbing cream numbs the surface of the skin and is often all you need for lighter treatments. A nerve block reaches deeper. Dr Ed will talk you through both at your consultation, and there is never any pressure to have a block.
Ultrasound guidance
Ultrasound lets Dr Ed see the structures beneath the skin, including blood vessels and any previous filler, before selected treatments. Find out more about ultrasound-guided treatments.
Which treatments can a nerve block help with?
Lip Filler
Dermal Fillers
Tear Trough and Under-Eye
Morpheus8
Erbium Laser Resurfacing
HALO and Ultherapy
Excessive Sweating
Hair Loss Treatments
Nerve blocks for filler, laser, Ultherapy and sweating treatment
Fillers and injectables
You can ask Dr Ed about a nerve block for:
- Lip filler: infraorbital and mental nerve blocks numb the lips.
- Cheek filler, chin filler and jawline filler: a block can numb the area being treated.
- Tear trough filler: an infraorbital block numbs the under-eye area.
- Non-surgical rhinoplasty: always ultrasound guided here, with a block where it helps.
- Facial dermal filler, polynucleotides and Sunekos: helpful when there are many small injections.
Morpheus8, laser and Ultherapy
For deeper energy-based treatments, a block can be used alongside numbing cream:
- Morpheus8: for deeper radiofrequency microneedling.
- Erbium laser resurfacing: for deeper resurfacing.
- HALO: for deeper hybrid laser treatment.
- Ultherapy Prime: to numb specific areas before treatment.
Sweating and hair loss treatment
Nerve blocks are also used for:
- Excessive sweating: wrist blocks for the palms and ankle blocks for the soles.
- PRP and our hair loss programme: with a scalp nerve block.
Is a nerve block right for me?
A nerve block is never compulsory, and many treatments are comfortable with numbing cream alone. Dr Ed will advise you honestly at your consultation.
What to expect from a nerve block
Your consultation
Dr Ed will talk through your goals, your medical history and any previous treatments, and explain whether a nerve block would help. Please tell us about any allergies, medicines or previous reactions to local anaesthetic.
Placing the block
The skin is cleaned and a small amount of local anaesthetic is placed next to the nerve with a fine needle. You may feel a brief pinch, and the area starts to feel numb within a few minutes.
During your treatment
Once the area is numb, your treatment begins. Most people feel gentle pressure rather than sharp sensations, and Dr Ed checks in with you throughout.
Afterwards
Numbness usually wears off within about 30 minutes, and sometimes up to an hour. Until feeling returns, avoid hot drinks, chewing and heat on the area, and take care not to bite your lip after a lip block. You can usually drive and carry on with your day.
Safety and side effects
Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as bruising or tenderness where the block was placed. Rarely, there can be temporary tingling or a reaction to the local anaesthetic. Dr Ed will explain the risks and benefits before you decide.
How much does a nerve block cost?
There is no separate price listed for a nerve block. Whether a block would help is discussed at your consultation as part of planning your treatment, and your treatment price is confirmed with you before anything begins. You can find our consultation and treatment fees on our prices page.
Nerve blocks are available at our Hale clinic and at Harley Street. Dr Ed Robinson consults at 104 Harley Street, London W1G 7JD, on a regular Friday schedule, offering injectable treatments. Contact us to reserve an appointment.
Dr Ed is a GMC-registered doctor with a background in anaesthesia, who uses ultrasound guidance and nerve blocks in his everyday practice. Our Hale clinic is rated Good overall by the CQC, with two areas of leadership rated Outstanding: Shared direction and culture, and Governance, management and sustainability.
Our Approach
Patient Safety
Your comfort and safety come first, starting with a full consultation and medical history.
Evidence-Based Practice
We use well-established techniques, such as nerve blocks and ultrasound guidance, where they genuinely help.
Bespoke Treatments
Every plan is built around you, including how you feel about discomfort and needles.
Doctor-Led Care
Every nerve block is placed by Dr Ed, with careful aftercare and follow-up where needed.
What Our Patients Say
General reviews of our clinic and team, from Google
I cannot recommend this clinic highly enough. Dr Ed was professional, knowledgeable and a step above other aesthetics practitioners I have encountered.
He was incredibly thorough during the initial assessment and took the time to discuss a range of treatments that would be suitable for me. What particularly impressed me was his honesty about treatments that he felt wouldn’t be appropriate or beneficial. He takes a genuinely individualised approach rather than offering a one size fits all treatment plan.
I was extremely pleased with my results. Dr Ed has a focus on achieving subtle, natural-looking results, which was exactly what I wanted.
The clinic itself is stunning, and all of the staff were warm, friendly and welcoming. From the initial consultation through to the treatment itself felt professional. I wouldn’t hesitate to return and would highly recommend Dr Ed and the clinic to anyone considering aesthetic treatments.
Dr Ed and the team are exceptionally welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. The service is outstanding, with every treatment explained clearly and thoroughly, ensuring you feel confident and well looked after. The clinic itself is beautifully designed and feels more like a spa, creating an instantly calming atmosphere from the moment you walk in.
I visited the clinic recently and from the moment I arrived I felt really comfortable. Ed and all the staff were extremely helpful. I went in for a consultation to discuss my concerns and agreed on a treatment plan that I was really happy with. Will be returning here for all future treatments. I have been looking for a new clinic I can trust for a while and I’m glad I found this one.
FAQs
For more general enquiries, please take a look at some of our frequently asked questions.
What is a nerve block for filler?
A nerve block for filler is a small injection of local anaesthetic placed next to the nerve that supplies the area being treated, so the whole area goes numb before the filler is injected. For the lips, Dr Ed uses infraorbital and mental nerve blocks, which numb the upper and lower lip.
Does lip filler hurt?
Lip filler usually feels like a series of small pinches with some pressure, and the lips are one of the more sensitive areas to treat. Numbing cream helps many people, and if you are anxious or have found lip filler uncomfortable before, a nerve block can make treatment much more comfortable. See our lip filler page.
Can I have a nerve block for lip filler?
Yes, you can ask for a nerve block for lip filler at your consultation. It is optional: many people are comfortable with numbing cream alone, and Dr Ed will talk you through both options so you can choose.
Which nerve blocks are used for lip filler?
Dr Ed uses infraorbital and mental nerve blocks for lip filler, placed with a fine needle through the skin rather than from inside the mouth. The infraorbital nerve block numbs the upper lip, the side of the nose and part of the cheek, and the mental nerve block numbs the lower lip and chin.
Is a nerve block for lip filler the same as a dental block?
Yes, it numbs the same nerves. A dental block for the lips means infraorbital and mental nerve blocks, the nerves a dentist numbs. The difference is that Dr Ed gives them with a fine needle through the skin rather than from inside the mouth. For many patients, lip filler with a dental block feels close to painless, though everyone is different.
How long does a nerve block last?
A nerve block usually lasts about 30 minutes, and sometimes up to an hour, depending on the nerve and the area. That is long enough for your treatment, and feeling returns gradually on the same day.
Does a nerve block hurt?
A nerve block feels like a quick, small pinch, similar to any other small injection. The area then goes numb within a few minutes, and many people find the block is the only part of their treatment they notice.
Are nerve blocks safe?
Nerve blocks are a well-established technique used every day in medicine and dentistry, and side effects are usually mild, such as bruising or tenderness. Rarely there can be temporary tingling or a reaction to the local anaesthetic. Dr Ed checks your medical history first and only uses a block when it is right for you.
Can I eat and drink after a nerve block?
Yes, once the feeling has come back. While your lips or face are numb, avoid hot drinks and chewing, so you do not bite your lip or burn your mouth without noticing.
Can I drive after a nerve block?
Yes, in most cases. The local anaesthetic only affects the treated area, so it does not affect your ability to drive or carry on with your day.
Can I have a nerve block for Ultherapy?
Yes, Dr Ed sometimes uses nerve blocks for Ultherapy Prime. Ultherapy works deep beneath the skin and some areas can feel intense, so numbing specific areas first can make treatment much more comfortable.
Can I have a nerve block for Morpheus8, HALO or erbium laser?
Yes, a nerve block can be used for deeper Morpheus8, HALO and erbium laser resurfacing treatments, alongside numbing cream. Dr Ed will advise whether it would help for the depth and area being treated.
Do sweating injections in the hands and feet hurt?
Injections for excessive sweating in the palms and soles can be uncomfortable, because these areas are very sensitive. Dr Ed can use wrist nerve blocks to numb the palms and ankle nerve blocks to numb the soles, so hyperhidrosis treatment is much more comfortable.
Do nerve blocks affect results?
No, a nerve block only affects sensation and does not change how a treatment works. Being comfortable and relaxed can help you stay still, which helps Dr Ed work precisely.
Who carries out nerve blocks at the clinic?
Dr Ed places every nerve block himself. Dr Ed is a GMC-registered doctor with a background in anaesthesia, who uses ultrasound guidance and nerve blocks, and he teaches other clinicians about regional nerve blocks. You can find out more on our meet the team page.
How much does a nerve block cost?
There is no separate price listed for a nerve block. Whether a block would help is discussed at your consultation, as part of planning your treatment, and your treatment price is confirmed before anything begins. See our prices page for consultation and treatment fees.
Where can I have a nerve block near Manchester or in London?
Nerve blocks are available at our clinic in Hale, near Altrincham, which is easy to reach from across Cheshire and Manchester, and at Harley Street. Dr Ed Robinson consults at 104 Harley Street, London W1G 7JD, on a regular Friday schedule, offering injectable treatments. Contact us to reserve an appointment.
What is ultrasound-guided treatment?
Ultrasound-guided treatment means Dr Ed uses a small handheld scanner to see beneath the skin, including muscles, blood vessels and existing filler, before and during selected treatments. Find out more about ultrasound-guided treatments.