Starting a new medicine can feel a little nerve-racking, especially when it involves an injection. But understanding needle size and simple steps to use the pen can make your weekly dose of Wegovy feel straightforward and manageable.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wegovy needles: the typical length and gauge, how to attach a needle and prime the pen, and tips for making your first dose as comfortable as possible.
With a little guidance, using your Wegovy pen can quickly become routine.
Key Takeaways
- Wegovy needles are small and effective: Most UK adults use 4mm, 32G needles, which reliably deliver the dose under your skin with minimal discomfort.
- Injection is quick and usually mild: Most people feel a brief pinch or slight sting, but it shouldn’t be painful.
- Follow proper technique: Keep the pen at 90°, hold until the counter shows 0, then count to six before removing the needle. Rotate injection sites to reduce the risk of skin irritation.
- Priming is essential for new pens: Perform a flow check to ensure the medicine flows correctly before your first dose.
- Stay consistent and relaxed: Let the pen warm up, pick a comfortable site, and breathe slowly to reduce nerves.
- Check before repeating doses: If you’re unsure whether a dose was fully delivered, contact your healthcare provider, never repeat it on your own.
Does Wegovy already have a needle?
In the UK, Wegovy is supplied as a FlexTouch multi-use pre-filled pen. Each pen contains four weekly doses and is designed to be used with disposable NovoFine Plus, NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles. Most packs include four needles—one for each dose. Always attach a new needle for each weekly dose and dispose of it safely in a sharps bin after you’ve injected the medicine.
In the United States, Wegovy often comes as single-dose, pre-filled pens with an integrated, hidden needle. Packs typically include four single-use pens for four weekly doses. These single-dose devices are also approved in the UK, but most UK patients receive the multi-use pen, which means you need to attach a needle before use.
Always follow the instructions for the specific pen you have. If you’re unsure, check the patient leaflet or ask your healthcare provider.
How big is the Wegovy needle?
When doctors talk about needle size, they mean two different measurements: length and gauge.
- Length: Wegovy pen needles typically range from 4 to 8 mm. In the UK, most providers supply 4mm needles with the FlexTouch device.
- Gauge: Gauge (written as G) describes thickness. The higher the number, the thinner the needle. In the UK, 32G is the most common gauge for Wegovy.
Because Wegovy is injected subcutaneously (into the fat just under your skin), shorter needles like 4mm reliably reach the right layer for most body types, tend to be more comfortable, and reduce the chance of injecting into muscle (which can be painful). Large studies show that 4mm needles deliver the full dose as effectively as longer ones.
Bottom line: a 4mm, 32G pen needle is a sensible default for most adults starting Wegovy. For tips on technique, see our guide on how to inject Wegovy.
What does the Wegovy needle feel like?
Most people describe the injection as a quick pinch with mild stinging at most. The medicine goes just under the skin, not into muscle, and the injection itself only takes a few seconds.
Tips for a smooth injection:
- Stay relaxed
- Press the pen firmly against your skin,
- Keep it in place until your device shows the dose is complete.
What you’ll see during the injection
If you have the FlexTouch multi-use pen (common in the UK):
- Insert the needle into your skin, making sure you can see the dose counter. Don’t cover it with your fingers.
- Press and hold the dose button until the counter shows 0.
- Keep the needle in your skin and press while you slowly count to six: one… two… three… four… five… six.
- Remove the needle. If you remove it too early, a thin stream may appear from the needle tip and you may not receive the full dose.
A small drop of liquid at the needle tip after you finish is normal. If you see a little blood at the site, press lightly with clean gauze.
Is it possible to inject Wegovy incorrectly?
Injecting Wegovy incorrectly is unlikely if you follow the instructions. And most people do very well after a little practice.
Common slip-ups and how to avoid them:
- Starting the dose too early. Don’t press the button until the needle is in your skin and the pen is held firmly in place.
- Lifting the pen too soon. Hold the pen until the counter reaches 0, then slowly count to six.
- Injecting in the same spot. Rotate between your stomach, thigh, or upper arm to reduce injection site reactions.
- Poor contact or angle. Press the pen steadily at 90 degrees. A 4mm, 32G needle helps keep the injection in the subcutaneous layer rather than muscle.
If you’re unsure whether you administered a dose correctly, don’t repeat it. Check with your healthcare provider.
How to prime the Wegovy pen
Priming (also called a flow check) makes sure that the medicine flows correctly before your first injection with a new pen. For the UK FlexTouch device, you do this once per new pen. You don’t need to prime before every weekly dose, unlike Mounjaro.
Steps to check the flow (prime)
- Attach a fresh needle. Remove both needle caps.
- Select the flow check. Turn the dose selector to the flow check symbol.
- Hold the pen with the needle pointing up. Keep your fingers away from the dose counter so you can see it.
- Press and hold the dose button until the counter returns to 0 and the 0 lines up with the dose pointer.
- Look for a drop of liquid at the needle tip. This drop confirms the pen is ready.
If no drop appears
- Repeat the flow check again. This should only be done twice.
- Still no drop? Change the needle and check the flow once more.
- If there is still no drop, do not use the pen. Contact your pharmacist or provider.
Important: You cannot prime without a needle because the check requires medicine to pass through the needle tip.
Tips if you’re nervous about needles
We get that some people feel uneasy about needles. These tips can help you feel more confident, so you’ll be a natural in no time.
- Let the pen warm up. Take it out of the fridge roughly 15 minutes before use so it’s closer to room temperature. Colder injections can sting more.
- Pick the easiest spot. Choose the area you feel most comfortable with. Your stomach is usually the simplest, but your thigh or upper arm is fine too.
- Watch the steps first. Rewatch the how to inject Wegovy video before your first few doses and practise the hand positions with the cap on so the movement feels familiar.
- Breathe out as you press. Try a slow exhale when you press the button, then count to six while you keep the pen in place. It helps your muscles stay relaxed.
- Use a cold pack if helpful. A wrapped ice pack on the site for 30 to 60 seconds before you inject can help numb the area to reduce discomfort. Remove it, dry the skin, then inject.
- Make it a weekly routine. Same day, same time, same simple checklist. Since Wegovy is once weekly, a short ritual can reduce nerves and keep things consistent.
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Injecting Wegovy can feel unfamiliar at first—but once you understand the needle size and how it works, you’ll likely find your new weekly routine way easier than expected.
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