Injection Site Rotation: The Complete Guide

Why Rotate?

Injecting in the same spot repeatedly causes:

• Lipohypertrophy — hard lumps under the skin from fat tissue buildup
• Inconsistent absorption — scar tissue absorbs medication unpredictably
• Injection site reactions — redness, itching, irritation

Rotation prevents all three and ensures your medication works consistently.

The Best Sites for GLP-1 Injections

1. Abdomen (most popular) — 2 inches away from the navel, anywhere in the fatty area. Left side one week, right side the next.

2. Thighs — Front or outer thigh, upper half. Alternate left and right weekly.

3. Upper arms — Back of the arm, fatty area. Harder to self-inject but works well.

A Simple Rotation System

Use a 6-site rotation:

1. Abdomen left
2. Abdomen right
3. Thigh left
4. Thigh right
5. Upper arm left
6. Upper arm right

One site per week = each site gets 6 weeks to recover before reuse.

Tips for Better Injections

• Room temperature medication — Take the pen out of the fridge 30 minutes before injecting. Cold medication stings more.
• Don't rub the site — Gentle pressure with a cotton ball is fine, but rubbing can affect absorption.
• Pinch the skin — Creates a clear target and ensures you're injecting into subcutaneous fat, not muscle.
• Inject slowly — Hold the pen in place for 10 seconds after the click to ensure full delivery.

Track It

DoseCurve's body map feature shows you where you last injected and suggests the next site in your rotation. No more trying to remember which side you used last week.