The contraceptive implant is inserted just under the skin of your upper arm through a quick procedure that typically takes less than five minutes. A healthcare provider uses a pre-loaded applicator (similar to a large needle) to slide a small, flexible rod into the tissue on the inner side of your non-dominant arm. The area is numbed beforehand, so most people feel only brief pressure.
Where Exactly It Goes
The implant sits in the inner part of your upper arm, over the muscle that runs along the back (your triceps). The precise spot is about 3 to 4 inches above the bony bump on the inside of your elbow and roughly 1 to 2 inches below the groove between your bicep and tricep. Your provider will mark this location before starting.
Correct depth matters. The rod needs to sit just beneath the skin, not deep in muscle tissue. When placed correctly, you can feel it under your skin like a thin matchstick. If it’s inserted too deeply, it can be hard to locate later when it’s time for removal.
How You’re Positioned and Prepped
You’ll lie down with your arm bent at the elbow, your wrist near your ear or your hand resting next to your head. This position exposes the inner arm and relaxes the tissue at the insertion site. Your provider will clean the area with antiseptic, then inject a small amount of local anesthetic to numb the skin. You’ll feel a brief sting from the numbing shot, but after that the insertion itself is painless for most people.
The Insertion, Step by Step
The implant comes pre-loaded inside a single-use applicator. Your provider removes a protective cap, then holds the device between their thumb and fingers at a textured grip area. They’ll typically sit down during the procedure to get a better side-on view of the applicator rather than looking straight down at it.
With one hand stretching your skin taut, they insert the needle tip at roughly a 30-degree angle. Once the needle breaks the skin, the applicator is lowered flat against your arm. The provider then gently advances the full length of the needle just beneath the surface, “tenting” the skin upward as they go. You may feel a sensation of pressure or tugging, but not pain.
Here’s where the design of the applicator does most of the work. Rather than pushing the implant forward, the provider slides a small purple lever on the applicator backward. This retracts the needle while the rod stays in place under your skin. Once the lever locks, the needle is fully inside the applicator housing and the device is removed. The implant is now sitting in position.
Checking That It’s Placed Correctly
Immediately after the applicator is withdrawn, both you and your provider will feel for the implant through your skin. It should be easy to locate: a thin, firm rod about the size of a matchstick. Your provider also checks the applicator needle to confirm the implant isn’t still inside the device. This double check happens before any bandages go on. If the implant can’t be felt, further steps like imaging may be needed to verify its location.
Bandaging and Recovery
Your provider places a small adhesive bandage directly over the insertion point, then wraps the area with a pressure bandage made of sterile gauze. The pressure bandage helps minimize bruising and should stay on for 24 hours. The smaller adhesive bandage underneath stays on for 3 to 5 days.
Some bruising, tenderness, or mild swelling around the site is normal and usually fades within a week or two. You can use your arm for everyday activities, though you may want to avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise with that arm for the first couple of days while the soreness is fresh.
When to Schedule the Insertion
Timing your appointment within your menstrual cycle affects how quickly the implant starts working. If it’s placed during the first five days after your period begins, it’s effective immediately. If it’s placed at any other point in your cycle, you’ll need to use condoms or avoid intercourse for the next seven days while the hormone reaches effective levels.
How Common Are Complications
Insertion-related complications are uncommon, affecting roughly 1% of procedures. The most typical issues are localized: pain, bruising, swelling, redness, or minor scarring at the site. These are short-lived for most people.
Serious complications are rare. Deep placement, where the rod ends up too far below the skin surface, can make future removal more difficult. In extremely rare cases, a deeply placed implant near major blood vessels or nerves can cause injury during removal. The manufacturer estimates that the implant ending up inside a blood vessel happens in roughly one out of every million insertions. The verification step right after placement, where you and your provider feel for the rod, is specifically designed to catch positioning problems before you leave the office.