Wegovy injection sites: a step-by-step guide to where and how to inject

Step 1, Know the three approved areas and what makes each different

Wegovy's patient information leaflet describes three suitable injection sites: the stomach (abdomen), the front of the upper thigh, and the outer upper arm. Each has its own practical character, and knowing the differences helps you pick the right one on any given week.

The abdomen is where most people start. It is easy to see and reach, the skin can be gently pinched, and absorption tends to be predictable. Choose a zone roughly the size of an outstretched hand on either side of the navel, staying clear of the 5 cm immediately around it. Avoid the waistband area, clothing pressure and movement can irritate freshly injected skin.

The thigh is a strong second option, particularly if your abdomen is sore or has visible changes. Aim for the outer middle section of the upper leg, not the inner thigh, which is thinner and more sensitive. Sitting down with the muscle relaxed makes the technique easier.

The outer upper arm is licensed but genuinely harder to reach on your own. The injection point is on the back-outer surface of the arm, roughly halfway between shoulder and elbow. Most people find they need a partner or carer to inject this site reliably. If you are self-injecting, the abdomen or thigh will serve you better on solo weeks. You can read more about the upper arm as a Wegovy injection site if you want detail on the positioning.

The NHS medicines guidance for semaglutide covers these sites as part of standard administration advice, the NHS semaglutide page is a straightforward reference to bookmark.

Step 2, Prepare the site properly before injecting

Clean preparation reduces the risk of infection and makes the injection more comfortable. The sequence is short but worth repeating the same way every time, because consistency builds habit.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the pen or touching the site. Then clean the skin with an alcohol swab, using a single wipe and letting it dry completely, at least 30 seconds. Injecting before the alcohol has dried can cause a brief but unnecessary sting.

Check the skin you are about to use. Avoid any area that is bruised, red, broken, or has visible lumps or hardened patches. Those changes, sometimes called lipohypertrophy, are a sign the tissue has been used too often. The medicine absorbs poorly from affected skin, so rotating correctly keeps those patches from forming in the first place.

The Wegovy pen does not require you to pinch the skin, the needle length is designed for subcutaneous injection without pinching on most adults. Your patient information leaflet will confirm the technique for your specific pen format, and if you are on the newer 7.2 mg pen, the mechanism differs slightly from earlier versions, so reading that leaflet carefully on first use is worth the few minutes it takes.

On injecting: hold the pen flat against the skin, press firmly until you hear or feel the click, and keep it held in place until the full dose has been delivered. The leaflet will tell you how long to hold. Do not rub the skin after removing the pen.

Step 3, Build a rotation pattern you can actually remember

Rotation sounds straightforward until you are a few months in and cannot recall where you injected three weeks ago. A simple system prevents that.

One approach is to divide the abdomen into quadrants: top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right. Spend one week in each quadrant before returning to the first. You can then add the thigh and arm into the cycle so that no single quadrant or region carries the load week after week. Some people sketch a rough outline of the body and tick where they injected, a scrap of paper on the fridge door works as well as any app.

The key rule is never to inject in the same spot twice in a row. Within any region, move at least 1–2 cm from the previous injection point. Over time, working systematically means your skin gets a proper rest between visits to the same spot.

If you are curious about thigh injection technique in more detail, or want to compare positioning across all three regions on our full Wegovy injection sites guide, those pages go deeper on each area. General guidance on semaglutide injection site selection also applies, since Wegovy contains semaglutide.

Worth noting for context: if you are considering where to inject Wegovy based on your lifestyle, some people find the thigh most convenient at certain times of year, easier to reach in a changing room or when the abdomen feels bloated during a GI adjustment phase.

What to watch for, and when to ask for help

Mild redness, slight bruising, or a small bump at the injection site after your weekly dose is common and usually fades within a day or two. Itching around the site is also typical in the early weeks as your skin adapts.

Contact a healthcare professional if you notice persistent lumps that do not resolve between doses, signs of infection such as spreading redness, warmth, or discharge, or an allergic reaction including hives, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing. These are less common but need prompt assessment.

Semaglutide's wider side-effect profile is GI-led, nausea, loose stools, or constipation are more typical early-treatment complaints than injection-site problems for most people. If nausea is bothering you, the Wegovy overview covers managing that alongside the wider treatment picture.

If you are thinking about whether Wegovy is right for you more broadly, including how private treatment costs compare across providers, the relevant pages can help you build the full picture before making a decision. And if you are ready to speak with a prescriber, checking your eligibility through a free consultation is a straightforward next step, a real prescriber reviews every form the same day it is submitted, not a piece of software.