P Shot Side Effects: What Are the Risks and How Common Are They?

Medically reviewed by Mr S N Abbas, MBBS, MRCSEd, MSc (Distinction) | Dr SNA Aesthetic and Regenerative Clinic, 48 Wimpole Street, London | drsnaclinic.com

If you are looking into the P Shot and wondering what the side effects actually are — you are asking exactly the right question before you book anything.

Most clinics will tell you the P Shot is safe. And they are right — it is. But “safe” does not mean “nothing happens afterwards.” There are real side effects to know about, a small number of genuine risks, and a few warning signs that would mean you need to call your clinic straight away.

This guide covers all of it. Honestly. Without the marketing spin.

So What Actually Happens to Your Body After the P Shot?

The P Shot treatment uses platelet-rich plasma — PRP — drawn from your own blood and injected into specific areas of the penis. Because it uses your own biological material, your body does not treat it as a foreign substance. That is why the side effect profile is genuinely low compared to most medical procedures.

But you are still having an injection. Into sensitive tissue. So there will be a reaction — and that reaction is completely normal and expected.

Here is what most men experience in the 24 to 72 hours after their P Shot treatment:

Mild swelling around the injection site. This is your body’s natural inflammatory response. It usually peaks around day one or two and settles on its own.

Bruising. Some men get a little bruising. Some get none at all. It depends on your skin, your circulation, and how your body responds generally.

Temporary sensitivity or tenderness. The area will feel more sensitive than usual for a day or two. This is normal and not a cause for concern.

A feeling of firmness or fullness. Some men describe the treated area feeling slightly firmer or fuller than usual in the days immediately after. This is the PRP doing its job — stimulating the tissue — and it settles as the healing process progresses.

None of these side effects require treatment. They resolve on their own within two to three days in the vast majority of cases.

How Long Do the Side Effects Last?

For most men, 24 to 72 hours.

By day three, the swelling has typically settled, the sensitivity has reduced, and you feel broadly back to normal. Some men find things settle even faster — by the end of the first day.

A small number of men find the tenderness lingers a little longer — up to five or six days. This is still within the normal range, particularly if you have more sensitive skin or are prone to bruising generally.

The key point: if things are improving day by day, that is a good sign. If things are getting worse after day three — more swelling, more redness, more pain — that is when you need to contact the clinic.

Are There Any Serious Risks with the P Shot?

Yes — and any honest clinic will tell you about them. Serious complications are rare, but they exist, and you should know what they look like.

Infection. This is the most significant risk associated with any injectable procedure. It is rare — especially when the procedure is performed by a qualified clinician in a properly sterile environment using single-use equipment. But it can happen.

The signs of infection are distinct from normal side effects:

• Increasing redness that gets worse rather than better
• Warmth around the site that spreads or intensifies
• Swelling that keeps growing beyond day two or three
• Pus or discharge at the injection site
• Fever — even a mild one in the days following treatment

If you notice any of these, contact your clinic immediately. Do not wait to see if it settles. Infection needs prompt attention and it responds well to treatment when caught early.

Haematoma. A haematoma is a collection of blood under the skin that forms when a blood vessel is nicked during injection. It feels like a firm lump and can be uncomfortable. It is uncommon and usually resolves on its own, but it is worth reporting to your clinic if you notice one developing.

Allergic reaction to the local anaesthetic. The PRP itself carries almost no allergy risk because it comes from your own blood. However, the local anaesthetic or numbing cream used before the injection is a different matter. True allergic reactions are rare, but if you have a known allergy to local anaesthetics, you must tell your clinician before the procedure.

Does the P Shot Hurt?

This is one of the most common questions men ask — and the honest answer is: less than most men expect.

Before any injection begins, a topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area and left for 20 to 30 minutes. By the time the PRP is injected, the area is properly numb. Most men describe it as mild pressure rather than pain. The needles used are ultra-fine, and the whole injection phase takes only five to ten minutes.

Some men feel a very brief sharp sensation as the anaesthetic takes effect. After that, the rest of the procedure is typically well-tolerated.

The anticipation is usually worse than the reality. That is one of the things patients tell us most consistently after their appointment.

What Can You Not Do After the P Shot?

Getting the aftercare right makes a real difference to how quickly you recover and how well the treatment works. Here is what to avoid:

Sexual activity for four to five days. The treated tissue needs time to settle and the PRP needs time to begin integrating. Resuming too early can disrupt the process and increase discomfort.

Strenuous exercise for 24 to 48 hours. Anything that significantly raises your heart rate and blood pressure can increase swelling and bruising. Light walking is fine. The gym is not.

Ice or heat on the treated area. This surprises some people. But applying ice or heat directly to the injection site in the days immediately after treatment can interfere with the natural inflammatory process that is part of how PRP works.

Alcohol for the first 24 hours. Alcohol thins the blood and can increase bruising and swelling.

Anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen for the first few days. Again, the inflammatory response is part of the healing process. Suppressing it too early with NSAIDs can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Paracetamol is fine for pain relief if you need it.

Is the P Shot Safe for Everyone?

No — and this is important. The P Shot UK is a well-tolerated procedure for most men, but there are specific situations where it is not appropriate:

Active genital infection. If you have any active infection in the treatment area, the procedure must be postponed until it has fully resolved.

Bleeding disorders. If your blood does not clot normally, a PRP injection carries a higher risk of bleeding complications. This includes conditions like haemophilia.

Anticoagulant medication. If you take blood thinners such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, or apixaban, these may need to be paused under medical supervision before treatment. This is something to discuss at consultation — never stop anticoagulant medication without medical advice.

Active chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the pelvic region. The immune system is significantly compromised during these treatments, and the risk of complications increases substantially.

Known allergy to local anaesthetic. Tell your clinician before anything begins.

A good clinician will ask about all of these things at consultation. If yours does not, that is a warning sign in itself.

How Do You Know If Your Clinic Is Safe?

The side effect profile of the P Shot is directly linked to where you have it done and who does it. This cannot be overstated.

A clinician with surgical training, proper sterile technique, GMC registration, and experience in this specific procedure carries a significantly lower complication risk than an unregulated aesthetic practitioner offering the treatment as one of twenty services.

Before you book anywhere, ask:

• Is the clinician GMC registered?
• Will the doctor perform the injection personally — or will it be delegated to a nurse?
• Is the clinic CQC regulated?
• What sterile protocols are in place?
• What happens if I have a problem after treatment?

At Dr SNA Clinic on Wimpole Street, London, every P Shot is performed personally by Mr S N Abbas — orthopaedic consultant, MBBS, MRCSEd, MSc (Distinction). He trained in NHS Trauma and Orthopaedics at Cambridge, Oxford, and the Royal London Hospital. Every procedure is carried out under sterile conditions using single-use equipment in a fully CQC-regulated environment.

If something does not feel right after your treatment, you can contact the clinic directly. That level of aftercare access matters.

Quick Summary — P Shot Side Effects at a Glance

Side Effect	How Common	How Long
Mild swelling	Very common	1 to 3 days
Bruising	Common	2 to 5 days
Tenderness	Very common	1 to 3 days
Firmness or fullness	Common	2 to 5 days
Infection	Rare	Needs treatment
Haematoma	Uncommon	Varies
Allergic reaction	Very rare	Needs treatment

The Bottom Line

The P Shot has a genuinely low side effect profile — particularly compared to surgical alternatives or long-term pharmaceutical use. The common side effects are mild, temporary, and expected. The serious risks are rare and become rarer still when the procedure is performed correctly by a qualified clinician.

What you should take away from this:

The P Shot is not a risk-free procedure — no injection is. But for the right patient, in the right clinical setting, the risk-to-benefit ratio is very favourable. The men who do best are the ones who go in informed, follow the aftercare guidance, and choose their clinician carefully.

If you are considering P Shot treatment in the UK and want an honest conversation about whether it is right for you, that is exactly what the consultation at Dr SNA Clinic is for.

Dr SNA Aesthetic and Regenerative Clinic 48 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London W1G 8SF +44 7955 836986 | +44 20 3846 7111 drsnaclinic.com Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00

No GP referral required. Initial consultation £100 — fully redeemable against treatment.