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Concierge treatments · London

Hyaluronic acid injections, for joints, skin and more.

One molecule, many jobs — cushioning an osteoarthritic knee, softening a nasolabial fold, restoring vulvovaginal comfort. Delivered privately in London by a consultant chosen for the area, with the honest evidence up front.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Why patients choose us

  • 01

    A consultant, not a training room

    Every hyaluronic acid injection is done by a named consultant — orthopaedic, rheumatologist, radiologist or aesthetic doctor — chosen for the joint or area, not the diary.

  • 02

    Image-guided joint injections

    Intra-articular HA is delivered under ultrasound or fluoroscopy in our network. Blind injections miss the joint more often than clinicians like to admit.

  • 03

    Honest about the evidence

    NICE says no to HA for knee OA on the NHS; Cochrane sees modest short-term benefit. We tell you both, and you decide.

Indicative pricing

What a private hyaluronic acid injection costs in London.

Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.

In short

A single-dose knee HA in our network: £350–£800, effect over 3 to 6 months.

Treatment Indicative range
Knee HA — single injection (Ostenil, Durolane, Synvisc-One) £350–£800
Knee HA — 3-injection course (Synvisc, Fermathron) £750–£1,600
Hip or shoulder HA — image-guided £500–£950
Small joint HA (TMJ, thumb base, hallux rigidus) £300–£650
PRP + HA combination injection £700–£1,400
Dermal filler (per 1 ml syringe) £250–£800
Vulvovaginal HA (Desirial, Deka Renue) £600–£1,200
Consultation only £150–£300

Prices vary by clinic, by the branded product used, by whether image guidance is included, and by how many syringes or sessions are needed. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.

The problem

The right clinician, the right product, the right plane.

Hyaluronic acid is a good molecule with a badly-run market — cheap products, blind injections and cosmetic clinics without hyaluronidase on-site. We fix all three before you commit.

  • Not sure it will help?

    For knee OA the evidence is mixed. A steroid, physio push or PRP might fit better. We say so before you agree to a course.

  • Worried about accuracy?

    Hip, shoulder and small-joint HA are done under ultrasound or fluoroscopy in our network — not by feel alone.

  • Cosmetic, done properly?

    A Save Face or JCCP-registered doctor, an anatomical plane, and hyaluronidase on the shelf for the emergency you hope never comes.

The journey

From enquiry to result — what happens, in order.

One clinician from first message to review — including the settling-in weeks after.

  1. 01

    Before

    You tell us what is going on

    A short, confidential form. Which joint, or which cosmetic area — how long, what has been tried, and what you want out of it.

  2. 02

    Before

    We come back with a recommendation

    Within one working day: whether HA is the right step, which product suits the joint or area, an indicative price. If a steroid, PRP or dermal filler alternative fits better, we say so.

  3. 03

    Before

    We arrange the appointment

    Usually within one to two weeks. Any blood-thinning medication is reviewed — never stopped without advice.

  4. 04

    On the day

    Arrival at the clinic

    A brief consultation, consent, and the plan confirmed. For joints, the skin is prepped aseptically and the probe or fluoroscope set up.

  5. 05

    On the day

    The injection itself

    5 to 15 minutes. Local anaesthetic first, then HA delivered over 30 to 60 seconds. For dermal filler, topical numbing then careful placement at the correct anatomical plane.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Home the same day

    Straight out, driving is fine, back to a desk the same afternoon. Heavy loading of a treated joint waits 24 to 48 hours.

  7. 07

    After

    Effect builds, then holds

    Joint benefit typically settles in over 2 to 4 weeks and lasts 3 to 6 months. Filler softens and settles over 2 to 4 weeks and lasts 6 to 24 months. A review is arranged if useful.

Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to injection. Joint benefit lasts 3–6 months; filler lasts 6–24 months.

When it helps

When hyaluronic acid is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.

  • Knee osteoarthritis

    Stiff, painful knee where physiotherapy, weight loss and simple analgesia have plateaued and you want to defer replacement.

  • Hip osteoarthritis

    Groin pain and reduced rotation from hip OA — image-guided HA can offer months of relief between conservative care and replacement.

  • Shoulder OA or rotator cuff pain

    Painful arc, night pain and stiffness from glenohumeral OA or rotator-cuff-associated symptoms.

  • Thumb base (CMC) OA

    Pain at the base of the thumb on pinching or gripping — HA can settle symptoms and delay trapeziectomy.

  • TMJ or hallux rigidus

    Small joints — jaw or great toe — where HA is a low-risk step before surgery.

  • Facial volume and lines

    Nasolabial folds, cheeks, tear-trough, lips, chin, jawline or non-surgical rhinoplasty with reversible HA filler.

  • Vulvovaginal atrophy (GSM)

    Postmenopausal dryness and dyspareunia not helped by topical oestrogen — intravaginal HA is an option in the right hands.

  • Red flag: filler and skin blanching

    Sudden pain, blanching or visual change after a facial filler is a vascular emergency — dissolve with hyaluronidase the same hour and go to A&E.

Treatment options

One molecule, several jobs.

What each option on the table actually involves — and which fits which problem.

  • Single-dose knee HA

    Ostenil, Durolane or Synvisc-One — one injection, one visit, effect over 3 to 6 months. The commonest option we book.

  • 3-injection knee HA course

    Synvisc or Fermathron across three weekly visits. Slightly older format, still used where a clinician prefers it.

  • Hip HA under ultrasound

    Image-guided injection into a deep joint that is easy to miss without a probe. Off-label but widely used privately.

  • Shoulder HA

    Intra-articular or subacromial, guided by ultrasound. Chosen where steroid has been used or is being avoided.

  • Small joint HA

    TMJ, thumb-base CMC, or 1st MTP hallux rigidus — small volumes, precise placement, quick recovery.

  • PRP + HA combination

    Platelet-rich plasma paired with HA, offered privately for OA. Evidence is emerging rather than settled.

  • Dermal filler (facial)

    Restylane, Juvéderm, Belotero, Teosyal — reversible with hyaluronidase, tailored to the area and the anatomy.

  • Vulvovaginal HA

    Desirial or Deka Renue for postmenopausal atrophy where topical treatments have plateaued.

Our vetted London network

A small panel of clinicians, we picked them.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, MSK radiologists and aesthetic doctors across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.

Selection criteria

How we choose every clinician in our network.

A modern London clinic set up for image-guided hyaluronic acid injection
Consultant-led injections
  • Consultant orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and MSK radiologists for joint injections

  • Ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance for hip, shoulder and small joints

  • Aesthetic doctors on the Save Face or JCCP register for dermal fillers

  • Hyaluronidase held on-site for any facial filler complication

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards — honestly.

Hyaluronic acid injections are, on the whole, low-risk. The things worth planning are the honest evidence, the settling-in period, and knowing what an emergency looks like.

  • Injection-site soreness is common

    Ten to twenty per cent of joint injections have a day or two of local ache. Simple painkillers and rest deal with it.

  • Post-injection flare

    A rare, more severe reaction with hot, swollen joint hours after HA. It needs review — aspiration and culture to rule out septic arthritis.

  • Bruising and swelling with filler

    Expected with dermal fillers for a few days. Ice, arnica and avoiding aspirin help. Real swelling settles over a fortnight.

  • Nodules and asymmetry

    Small lumps or unevenness after filler are usually mouldable in the first two weeks and dissolvable with hyaluronidase later.

  • Infection is very rare

    Aseptic technique keeps infection risk tiny. Increasing redness, warmth or fever after any injection is a reason to call.

  • Vascular occlusion — the filler emergency

    Sudden severe pain, skin blanching, mottling or vision change after facial filler needs hyaluronidase within the hour. Glabella and nose carry the highest risk.

  • Tyndall effect

    A bluish tinge from filler placed too superficially, especially at the tear-trough. Dissolved with hyaluronidase, not left to fade.

  • NICE says no for knee OA

    CG177 recommends against HA for OA on the NHS. Cochrane sees modest short-term benefit. We give you both sides and you decide.

  • MHRA-regulated devices

    HA products used in the UK are CE-marked or UKCA-marked medical devices. We only use branded products with a paper trail.

Reading your treatment note

Your treatment note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever HA product was used, the note the clinician sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s treatment note after an HA injection

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and product used

    Which joint or area was treated, why HA was chosen, and which branded product and volume was injected — with the batch number.

  2. 02 Technique

    Guidance and technique

    Whether ultrasound or fluoroscopy was used for a joint, or needle or cannula for a filler — plus the anatomical plane.

  3. 03 Findings

    Any incidental findings

    Notes on the joint on ultrasound — effusion, cartilage loss, Baker cyst — or on facial asymmetry noted before filler.

  4. 04 Impression

    Aftercare, expected effect, review

    Read this first: what to expect over the next 24 hours and next 4 weeks, when to call, and whether a top-up or repeat is planned.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for HA injections varies by insurer and indication — some fund joint viscosupplementation for OA, none fund cosmetic dermal filler. We confirm cover before booking.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about hyaluronic acid injections.

Quick answers on evidence, cost, how long it lasts and how to spot the one filler emergency.

  • What is a hyaluronic acid injection?

    Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring glycosaminoglycan found in synovial fluid, skin and connective tissue. Injected into a joint it temporarily restores viscoelastic cushioning and may reduce inflammation; injected into the skin as a dermal filler it adds reversible volume that lasts 6 to 24 months.

  • Does it work for knee osteoarthritis?

    The evidence is mixed. NICE CG177 recommends against intra-articular hyaluronan for OA on the NHS. Cochrane reviews show modest short-term benefit for 3 to 6 months, comparable to or slightly better than steroid at 6 months. Many private patients notice useful relief; some do not. We are honest about that before you book.

  • Which HA product is best for my knee?

    The main UK options are Ostenil (single low-molecular-weight), Synvisc and Fermathron (3-injection higher-MW courses), Durolane and Synvisc-One (single high-MW). Choice depends on the joint, the clinician’s experience and how you feel about a single visit versus three.

  • How much does a private HA injection cost in London?

    Roughly £350–£800 for a single knee injection, £750–£1,600 for a 3-injection course, £500–£950 for image-guided hip or shoulder, and £250–£800 per 1 ml of dermal filler. A firm quote follows within one working day.

  • How long does an HA joint injection last?

    Most patients who respond notice benefit for 3 to 6 months. Some hold longer. The injection can be repeated typically every 6 to 12 months if it helped.

  • Are dermal fillers safe?

    HA fillers are safe in trained hands. The serious risks are vascular occlusion causing skin necrosis, and — very rarely — blindness from injection into the ophthalmic artery, particularly around the glabella and nose. Any competent clinic keeps hyaluronidase on-site to dissolve the filler in an emergency.

  • Can HA filler be reversed?

    Yes. Hyaluronidase (Hyalase) breaks down HA within minutes and is used for over-correction, migration, nodules, Tyndall effect and vascular occlusion.

  • Is hyaluronic acid injection available on the NHS?

    Not routinely. NICE recommends against HA for OA on the NHS, and dermal fillers are cosmetic. This is a private-only treatment in almost every case.

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