How to Administer Wegovy: Injection Technique Step by Step

Your first injection: what the moment actually looks like

Picture this: the pen has been in the fridge. You take it out about 30 minutes before you plan to inject, because a cold pen against the skin is noticeably more uncomfortable than one that has had time to reach room temperature. While it sits on the counter, check the window on the pen. The liquid should be clear and colourless or faintly yellow. If you see particles, cloudiness or discolouration, do not use it, contact your pharmacist. That check takes under a minute and matters.

Pick your site. The abdomen is often easiest to start with: choose an area at least 5 cm from your navel, avoiding any existing bruises, broken skin or stretch marks. Pinch a fold of skin between thumb and forefinger. Press the pen firmly and flatly against your skin, the covered needle tip will retract automatically as you push down. You will hear a click when the injection starts. Hold the pen steady for a full ten seconds after that click, then release. A second click may signal the dose is complete; your specific pen's leaflet will confirm exactly what to listen for.

If you want a thorough walkthrough of the full process, our guide to administering Wegovy covers everything from preparing the pen to completing the injection, which is worth reading before your first dose. Our step-by-step video guide takes you through each stage with the actual pen in frame, which most people find far clearer than text alone.

Rotating sites and the one habit worth forming early

Semaglutide is injected into subcutaneous fat, and that tissue changes if you keep hitting the same patch of it. Repeated injections in one spot produce lipohypertrophy, a slightly raised, firm area where fat cells have reacted to the needle. It feels like a small lump under the skin and, importantly, medicine absorbed through it enters the bloodstream less predictably.

The answer is rotation. Within each site (say, your abdomen) shift the injection point at least 1 cm from where you were last week. Many people keep a rough mental map: left side of the abdomen one week, right side the next, then the thigh, then back. You do not need a chart. You do need a habit.

If you want to compare injection sites in more detail (which is least uncomfortable, which is most accessible if you self-inject) the guide to injection site choice covers the practical trade-offs. Timing matters too; some people find a consistent day and time each week helps them stay on track, and there is specific guidance on choosing the best day and time for your Wegovy dose.

One note on the upper arm: it is a licensed site, but it requires someone else to inject unless you have good flexibility and a mirror. Factor that in if you live alone.

Side effects after injection: what is normal and what is not

The most common reactions in the first days after injecting are gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, constipation, indigestion or burping. These tend to be sharpest around a dose increase and usually ease within a week or two as the body adjusts. Mild redness or a slight sting at the injection site is also normal and clears quickly.

Some experiences warrant prompt medical attention. Severe stomach pain that radiates to the back (with or without vomiting) should not be waited out; this can be a sign of pancreatitis, a known though infrequent risk flagged in a 2026 MHRA Drug Safety Update covering GLP-1 medicines. Signs of a serious allergic reaction (swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat) also need emergency care. You can report any suspected side effect through the Yellow Card scheme, which feeds directly into the MHRA's ongoing safety monitoring.

For a fuller picture of what the clinical evidence says about semaglutide's tolerability profile, the semaglutide overview page sets it in context alongside the trial data.

Missed doses, disposal and a word on switching pens

Missing a dose happens. If fewer than five days have passed since your scheduled day, inject as soon as you remember and then return to your usual day the following week. If more than five days have gone, skip it and resume on your next scheduled day, do not inject a double dose. These are general guidelines from the Patient Information Leaflet; your prescriber is the right person to call if you are unsure what to do in a specific situation, particularly if you have missed doses across several weeks.

Used pens are clinical waste. Cap the pen and place it in a sharps container rather than your household bin. If you are new to self-injection and still weighing up what Wegovy treatment actually involves before committing to anything, the Wegovy treatment page and the broader weight-loss options overview both give a fuller picture of the medicine's licence, trial results and the wider treatment landscape.

If you have questions about starting, or you are considering transferring from another provider, a prescriber at nume is available to review your consultation the same day, a real clinician reads your answers, not automated software. Speak to our prescribers to get the process started.