How to inject (subq).

A small needle, under the skin, into fat. Clean the spot, pinch, push, done. Drop needles in a sharps bin.

Where to inject + how

1Belly — about 2 inches out from the belly button
2Outer thigh — the soft outer part, not the bone
3Back of the upper arm — the fatty back side

pinch & poke

Pinch a fold of fat. Put the needle in at 45° if you are lean or 90° if you have more fat. Move the spot each time so you do not get lumps.

Most peptides go in under the skin, into the layer of fat there. Doctors call this , or subq for short. It is not as scary as it sounds. People with diabetes do this many times a day, every day.

The tools, in plain words

A syringe is a small tube that holds liquid. It has a needle (a thin metal point) on one end and a plunger (a stick you push) on the other. You push the plunger to send the liquid in. The kind you want is a . The package says 31 gauge, ½ inch on it. Gauge is just how thin the needle is, and a higher number means thinner. You also want alcohol pads to clean the skin. And a (a hard plastic bin made for used needles, about $5 online). Never put loose needles in your trash.

Where to put the needle. Pick a soft, fatty spot:

your belly, about 2 inches away from your belly button
the outer thigh
the back of your upper arm

Use a different spot each time

Do not use the same spot twice in one week. The same spot over and over makes lumps and slows the medicine down.

How to do it, step by step.

Step 1: Wipe the spot with an alcohol pad.
Step 2: Pinch a fold of fat between two fingers.
Step 3: Push the needle in. Put it in at a slant, 45 degrees, if you are thin. Push it straight in, 90 degrees, if you have more fat.
Step 4: Press the plunger in slowly.
Step 5: Pull the needle straight out. Drop it in the sharps bin. Done.

What is normal

A tiny drop of blood. A light bruise. Mild stinging for about 30 seconds.

What is NOT normal. Stop and see a doctor if you get:

pain that lasts more than a few hours, redness that spreads out, pus, or a fever.

Mixing the powder first: How to reconstitute. Picking your amount: How to dose.