If you inject peptides daily or multiple times daily, you are puncturing your skin hundreds of times over a typical cycle. Injecting in the same spot repeatedly causes tissue damage — including lipodystrophy, scar tissue buildup, and reduced absorption. A simple injection site rotation system prevents all of this.
Why Rotation Matters
Lipodystrophy
Repeated subcutaneous injections in the same area can cause lipodystrophy — changes in the fat tissue beneath the skin. This can appear as:
- Lipohypertrophy: Hard lumps or thickening under the skin from fat accumulation
- Lipoatrophy: Dents or depressions from fat loss in the area
Both are cosmetically undesirable and can affect absorption — peptides injected into damaged tissue may absorb unpredictably.
Scar Tissue Formation
Each injection causes micro-trauma that heals with a tiny amount of scar tissue. One injection is insignificant. Hundreds in the same half-inch area creates a cumulative problem — a tough, fibrous patch that becomes painful to inject through and absorbs peptides poorly.
Recommended Injection Sites for SubQ Peptides
| Site | Location | Ease of Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdomen (left) | 2+ inches from navel, left side | Easy — most popular | Avoid the navel area directly |
| Abdomen (right) | 2+ inches from navel, right side | Easy | Alternate with left side |
| Upper thigh (left) | Front of thigh, middle third | Easy | Good absorption; easy to see |
| Upper thigh (right) | Front of thigh, middle third | Easy | Alternate with left |
| Upper arm (left) | Back of arm, tricep area | Moderate — harder to reach | May need help for first few times |
| Upper arm (right) | Back of arm, tricep area | Moderate | Good for variation |
| Love handle area | Side of abdomen, above hip | Easy | Good subcutaneous fat deposit |
Simple Rotation Systems
The Clock Method (Abdomen)
Imagine a clock face around your navel. Each injection moves to the next "hour" position, at least 1 inch from the previous site:
- Dose 1: 12 o'clock position (above navel)
- Dose 2: 2 o'clock
- Dose 3: 4 o'clock
- Continue clockwise...
This gives you 12 distinct sites on the abdomen alone, plus you can vary the distance from center for even more positions.
The Day-of-Week Method
| Day | AM Injection | PM Injection |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Left abdomen | Right abdomen |
| Tuesday | Left thigh | Right thigh |
| Wednesday | Left abdomen (lower) | Right abdomen (lower) |
| Thursday | Left love handle | Right love handle |
| Friday | Left abdomen (upper) | Right abdomen (upper) |
| Saturday | Left thigh | Right thigh |
| Sunday | Left abdomen | Right abdomen |
Tracking Methods
- Phone notes: Simple text note with date, time, and site. Quick and always with you.
- Spreadsheet: A simple Google Sheet or Excel file with columns for date, peptide, dose, and injection site.
- Body diagram: Print a simple body outline and mark each injection with the date. Visual and easy to review.
- App tracking: Some injection tracking apps are available for iOS and Android. These automate reminders and site suggestions.
Minimum Spacing Guidelines
- At least 1 inch (2.5cm) between consecutive injection sites
- Do not reuse the same exact spot for at least 7 days
- Avoid areas with visible bruising, redness, lumps, or tenderness
- Avoid scar tissue, moles, or stretch marks
Does injection site affect how well a peptide works?
For systemic peptides (TB-500, GH secretagogues, Thymosin Alpha-1), the injection site does not meaningfully affect efficacy — the peptide enters the bloodstream from any SubQ site. For localized healing peptides like BPC-157, injecting near the target area may provide faster local effects, though systemic benefits occur from any site.
What if I already have lumps from not rotating?
Stop injecting in the affected area immediately. Lipohypertrophy lumps will typically resolve on their own over weeks to months once the area is rested. Do not massage or try to break up the lumps. If they persist, are painful, or show signs of infection (redness, warmth, fever), consult a healthcare provider.