Where to inject Wegovy on your thigh — and how to get it right

You've got your pen. You're standing in the bathroom, wondering exactly where on your thigh to press it.

It's a reasonable hesitation. The thigh looks like a big target but only part of it is right. The zone you want is the outer surface, the part that faces away from your other leg when you stand with feet hip-width apart. Start roughly a hand's width below your hip and finish a hand's width above the knee. That middle strip is where the subcutaneous fat layer is consistent and accessible, and where the needle reaches the right depth without risk of hitting muscle.

Avoid the inner thigh entirely: the tissue there is thinner, more sensitive, and not a licensed injection site. The front of the thigh, directly facing the ceiling when you sit, is also off the list. If you find it easier to inject while seated (many people do), let your leg relax flat on a chair, this softens the muscle underneath and makes the subcutaneous layer easier to access. Our guide on the thigh as a Wegovy injection site covers positioning in more detail if you want the step-by-step picture.

The NHS semaglutide medicines page confirms the outer thigh, abdomen, and outer upper arm as the three approved injection sites, rotate between them to spread the load across different areas of tissue.

How to rotate within the thigh without losing track

Rotation matters more than most people expect. Injecting repeatedly into the same small patch causes lipohypertrophy, a build-up of lumpy, fibrous tissue that slows absorption and can make doses unpredictable. The fix is simple: move at least 1 cm from your previous spot each time, and keep a loose mental map of where you've been.

A practical system: divide the outer thigh zone into four rough quadrants, upper-outer, lower-outer, and the equivalent two across the same strip. Work around them in sequence, swapping to the other thigh and to the abdomen or upper arm on alternate weeks. You don't need a chart, just consistency. Some people use a small dot of pen on their skin to mark the previous site; the mark fades by the next week.

Left and right thighs count as separate sites. If you're also rotating across all three body areas (thigh, abdomen, upper arm) you have a large number of positions available before you need to revisit the same patch. That variety is the point. Our overview of all Wegovy injection sites maps out the full rotation strategy across body areas, which is useful once you're settled into the thigh technique.

One thing that sometimes surprises people: the Wegovy pen itself is pre-filled with four weekly doses. When it arrives (plain box, DPD tracking on your phone) nothing needs to be assembled or drawn up. If you want a full walkthrough before your first dose, our guide on how to inject Wegovy into your thigh takes you through every step from uncapping to disposal. The rotation is the only thing you manage manually each week.

Injection-site reactions on the thigh, what's normal and what to watch

Some redness, mild bruising, or tenderness at the injection point is common and generally settles within a day or two. A small, firm lump under the skin is also normal immediately after injecting and fades as the medicine disperses. These are not reasons to stop, they're the usual local response to any subcutaneous injection.

What you should take seriously: a hard lump that persists for more than a couple of weeks in the same spot (often a sign you haven't rotated far enough), spreading redness, warmth, or swelling that suggests infection, or an itchy raised welt that keeps returning. Any of those warrants a call to your prescribing team or GP. Allergic reactions to semaglutide are uncommon but possible; hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling around the face or mouth need emergency attention.

If you notice changes in the skin texture over an area you've been using regularly, rest that site completely for several weeks and let the tissue recover before returning to it, and if you want a closer look at technique in that spot, our page on injecting Wegovy in the thigh covers common errors that can contribute to localised skin changes. You can also report any suspected side effects to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme, this applies to injection-site reactions as much as systemic effects.

Getting started: eligibility, clinical review, and the private route

Wegovy is licensed in the UK for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above where at least one weight-related health condition is present, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. A lower BMI threshold may apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. Suitability is always assessed by a prescriber; the BMI threshold is a starting point, not an automatic green light.

On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE guidance, though waiting times are often significant. The private route through a regulated online pharmacy removes the referral and the wait, provided you meet the clinical criteria. At nume, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reads every consultation personally, the same day it's submitted. If you'd like to understand the cost picture before going further, our Wegovy cost comparison page sets out what private treatment typically involves.

Wegovy sits alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the injection technique you're reading about here is one part of a broader treatment plan your prescriber will help you think through. When you're ready, you can check your eligibility with our clinical team at no charge.