Concierge rhinology · UK
PRP for loss of smell - a rhinologist first, and an honest appraisal of a new therapy.
Endoscopic olfactory cleft PRP for persistent post-viral loss of smell - delivered by a specialist rhinologist, with proper smell testing, MRI and structured olfactory training. Emerging evidence, careful selection, no false promises.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A specialist rhinologist, not a general ENT
A consultant with a defined rhinology and skull-base practice, weekly endoscopy lists and a specific interest in olfactory disorders.
- 02
A proper smell work-up first
Objective smell testing, nasal endoscopy, MRI or CT where the pattern warrants it. Injection is decision three or four, not decision one.
- 03
Independent, and free
We hold no clinic contracts. If steroid therapy, sinus surgery or a purely training-and-time approach is right, we say so. It costs you nothing to ask.
Indicative pricing
What private PRP for loss of smell costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our rhinology partners. Firm quotes with training and follow-up included.
In short
A rhinologist-led endoscopic olfactory cleft PRP in our network: £950–£1,800, with a 3-session course over 8–12 weeks.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinology consultation + endoscopy | £280–£520 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Objective smell testing (Sniffin’ Sticks) | £120–£250 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Single olfactory cleft PRP injection | £950–£1,800 | 30 min | 4-week review |
| 3-session olfactory PRP course | £2,600–£4,800 | 3 visits over 12 weeks | Testing each visit |
| Sinus MRI (where indicated) | £450–£850 | 30 min | Report next day |
| Sinus CT (where indicated) | £300–£550 | 10 min | Same day |
| Olfactory training coaching (per session) | £90–£180 | 30 min | As scheduled |
Prices vary by clinic, by consultant seniority and by whether combined visits or extra work-up is needed. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A specialist assessment before a specialist injection.
Long COVID and post-viral anosmia have made smell loss common. PRP is one emerging option among several - none of them work well without olfactory training and a proper diagnosis.
Test the loss objectively
A Sniffin’ Sticks or UPSIT panel measures what you can actually detect and identify. Without objective testing we cannot measure response.
Structured olfactory training runs alongside
Twice-daily smell training with a defined set of odours is the intervention with the strongest evidence - PRP is added to it, not instead of.
Image the brain when the story warrants it
Sudden loss without infection, associated neurology or head injury needs MRI first. An injection cannot fix an olfactory groove meningioma.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through the last follow-up.
Phase 1 · Before
Assessment and planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Treatment
Phase 3 · After
Follow-up
- 01
Before
You tell us the story
A short, confidential form. Onset, trigger (COVID or other virus, head injury, chronic sinusitis), parosmia, dysgeusia and current medication.
- 02
Before
Rhinology assessment
Objective smell testing (Sniffin’ Sticks), flexible nasal endoscopy, and MRI or sinus CT where indicated.
- 03
Before
The honest recommendation
Whether olfactory training alone, a steroid course, sinus surgery or an olfactory cleft PRP course fits - and in what sequence.
- 04
On the day
Endoscopic olfactory cleft injection
Topical anaesthesia and decongestant applied. Under endoscopic vision, PRP is injected into the olfactory cleft mucosa - 20–30 minutes on the couch, no GA.
- 05
On the day
Straight back to normal
A short period of head-forward rest, no nose blowing for 24 hours, and no swimming or diving for a week. Olfactory training resumes at 24 hours.
- 06
After
Second and third injections
Typical protocol is three injections at 4-week intervals. Repeat smell testing at 4 weeks and 12 weeks.
- 07
After
Structured olfactory training
A defined 12-week programme of twice-daily training with rose, eucalyptus, lemon and clove - the training is what turns the biology into recovered function.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to first session. Objective response window: 3 months.
When it helps
When olfactory PRP is a reasonable option.
The patterns of smell loss where PRP is being considered - plus the red flag that means brain imaging rather than an injection.
-
Persistent post-viral anosmia
Loss of smell after COVID or another upper respiratory virus that has not recovered by 6–9 months despite training.
-
Parosmia (distorted smell)
Smells rewired unpleasantly - coffee smells of chemicals, meat of rotting. Selected patients are considered for PRP alongside training.
-
Hyposmia from chronic rhinosinusitis (post-treatment)
Where sinus surgery and steroids have controlled the disease but smell has not returned - an off-label consideration.
-
Post-traumatic hyposmia
After head injury where MRI shows olfactory bulb changes - selected cases, honest expectations.
-
Failed olfactory training
Where a 12-week structured training programme has not moved objective scores meaningfully.
-
Selected occupational patients
Chefs, sommeliers, perfumers and firefighters where smell function is central to work - earlier consideration is reasonable.
-
Dysgeusia (taste distortion) with anosmia
Where the taste symptom follows the smell loss - PRP addresses the olfactory driver.
-
Red flag: sudden loss with neurology or headache
Sudden anosmia with headache, visual change, seizure or new weakness needs urgent brain imaging - not a PRP appointment.
Treatment options
Olfactory cleft PRP is one option - the pathway includes more.
What the current UK olfactory pathway looks like, and where PRP sits within it.
Endoscopic olfactory cleft PRP
The standard delivery - endoscope-guided injection into the olfactory cleft mucosa under topical anaesthesia. No GA needed.
PRP with olfactory training
The recommended combination. Training is the evidence-based baseline; PRP is added on top for selected non-responders.
Topical intranasal PRP (drops)
A newer delivery method used in some clinics - evidence is thinner than for injection.
Systemic steroids (short course)
Considered early after post-viral loss where inflammation is thought to persist - not a chronic treatment.
Topical intranasal steroids
Standard where any nasal inflammation contributes; not a primary anosmia treatment alone.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
Reserved for chronic rhinosinusitis or polyps causing conductive smell loss - a different mechanism from post-viral anosmia.
Olfactory training alone
Twice-daily exposure to a defined odour set for 12+ weeks. Cheap, evidence-based and the first line for most patients.
Omega-3, vitamin A drops, zinc - as adjuncts
Mixed evidence. Some centres use them as low-risk adjuncts; none is a stand-alone answer.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of rhinologists, we picked them.
Consultant rhinologists across London, Manchester and Edinburgh with dedicated olfactory clinics, objective smell testing on site and access to sinus imaging and olfactory training programmes.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinician in our network.
Rhinology or skull-base fellowship-trained consultants with a defined smell practice
Objective smell testing (Sniffin’ Sticks, UPSIT) at every visit
Endoscopic imaging capture and MRI/CT access under one referral
Structured olfactory training programme built into the pathway
Safety and recovery
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Minor nasal discomfort for 24 hours
Some pressure or fullness in the upper nose. Paracetamol only - no NSAIDs for two weeks.
Small nosebleeds
A little bleeding at the injection site is normal. Head forward, pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes.
Infection is very rare
Sterile technique brings the risk under 1 in 500. Any fever, worsening facial pain or purulent discharge needs same-day review.
No nose blowing for 24 hours
Sniff gently; do not blow. No swimming, diving or air travel for one week.
Anticoagulation reviewed
Aspirin usually continues; warfarin, DOACs and antiplatelets are individually managed with cardiology.
Parosmia may fluctuate
Distorted smells can temporarily worsen after any nasal procedure. Give it 4–6 weeks before judging.
Not for suspected intracranial pathology
Any red-flag neurology needs imaging first. PRP has no role in olfactory groove meningioma or head-injury olfactory bulb transection.
Not for active sinusitis
Untreated bacterial or fungal sinus infection needs treatment before considering PRP.
Honest response rates
Emerging evidence suggests modest benefit in around 40–60% of well-selected patients. We measure objectively and stop courses that do not deliver.
Reading your olfactory record
Your olfactory PRP record in four parts. Read the last one first.
Baseline smell test, endoscopy findings, injection technique and forward plan - the parts a rhinology clinic should send after every session.
A quiet reminder
Smell tests without a standardised protocol are anecdotes. We insist on validated tools and consistent follow-up.
If you would like us to talk you through the record before your review, just ask.
- 01Baseline
Smell test scores and endoscopy
Sniffin’ Sticks or UPSIT scores, and endoscopic appearance of the olfactory cleft (mucosal oedema, discharge, polyps).
- 02Technique
Injection sites and volumes
Which side, how many deposits, PRP volume per side, and any adjunct measures (steroid, saline lavage).
- 03Training
Olfactory training programme
Odour set in use, frequency, and how well you have been able to keep to the programme.
- 04Impression
Expected response and next step
Read this first: expected timeline, next test date, whether a second session is planned and when to stop if no change.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Olfactory PRP is considered emerging by UK insurers. Cover is inconsistent - we check policy wording and code choice before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about PRP for loss of smell.
Quick answers on cost, safety, recovery and how we compare with the NHS pathway.
-
Can PRP really bring back a lost sense of smell?
Emerging small studies of endoscopic olfactory cleft PRP suggest a modest benefit over training alone in persistent post-viral anosmia - roughly 40–60% of selected patients report meaningful improvement on objective smell testing. It is not a cure and it does not work for everyone.
-
How long after losing my smell should I consider PRP?
Most rhinologists wait 6–9 months from the initial loss before recommending PRP, giving natural recovery and structured olfactory training the first chance. Occupational cases (chefs, perfumers) are sometimes considered earlier.
-
Does it hurt?
Mild pressure and stinging under topical anaesthesia. Most patients rate the procedure 3–4 out of 10, with mild nasal discomfort for 24 hours and occasional small nosebleeds.
-
How many injections will I need?
The most common protocol is three injections at 4-week intervals, alongside olfactory training. Objective smell testing at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks tells us whether to continue or stop.
-
How much does olfactory PRP cost privately in the UK?
A single olfactory cleft PRP session is £950–£1,800; a three-session course runs £2,600–£4,800. Additional smell testing, endoscopy and (where indicated) sinus MRI or CT are on top. Firm quote within one working day.
-
Is it available on the NHS?
Not routinely - a handful of tertiary rhinology units are running trials. Most olfactory PRP in the UK is private.
-
What if I have parosmia rather than complete loss?
Parosmia - where smells are distorted - can also be considered for PRP alongside training. Fluctuation for weeks after any nasal procedure is normal, so we allow 4–6 weeks before judging.
-
Do I still have to do smell training if I have PRP?
Yes. Structured twice-daily olfactory training is the evidence-based baseline. PRP appears to help most as an add-on to training - not as a substitute for it.
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