The vast majority of peptide protocols use subcutaneous (subq) injection — into the fatty tissue just below the skin, not the muscle below it. Once you've done a handful, it's effectively painless and takes under thirty seconds.
Needle choice
- Gauge: 29g or 30g for most compounds. 31g is the most comfortable and works for low-viscosity solutions. Avoid anything larger than 27g for subq — it's unnecessarily painful.
- Length: 5/16 inch (8mm) or 1/2 inch (12.7mm). 5/16 is sufficient for leaner body compositions; 1/2 inch gives more reliable fat-layer entry for most users.
- Syringe volume: match to your dose. For doses under 0.3 mL, use a 0.3 mL (30 unit) insulin syringe — the markings are finer and the dose accuracy is higher.
Site selection
Four common subq sites:
- Abdomen, 2+ inches lateral from the navel, avoiding visible veins.
- Outer thigh, roughly the upper third, avoiding the inseam.
- Posterior arm (triceps region) — harder to self-administer.
- Gluteal upper-outer quadrant — also harder solo.
Abdomen and outer thigh are the workhorses. Rotate across sites so no single point receives repeated injections within 5–7 days.
Technique
- Wash your hands. Swab the injection site with an alcohol pad in a circular motion outward. Let it air-dry — injecting into wet alcohol stings.
- Pinch a fold of skin and fat between thumb and forefinger. This lifts the subq tissue away from muscle.
- Insert at 45° to 90° depending on body composition — leaner users and shorter needles do better at 45°.
- Push the plunger slowly and steadily. A fast inject burns.