I am very similar in my routine to Laura. I do mine as the last thing I do before i get in bed at night.

I usually take the shot out of the fridge 1-3 hours before I inject and let it sit to reach room temperature. I wipe a large area and then give it time to dry while I load the syringe and get a cotton ball ready. Then when I inject, I pinch a large area together (on spots that I can reach to do that) so that there is plenty of skin and fat to inject into instead of muscle. As the shot is going in, I release what i have pinched up. Then immediately as I take the needle out, I put a cotton ball on it and hold it for 30-45 seconds with solid pressure (no rubbing). Then I throw the cotton ball away and coat the area with Benadryl Gel.

The benadryl seems to cut way back on the swelling the next day and cuts way back on the itching. I still get a bruise every once in a while, but I am very careful to avoid any area where veins are visible under the skin when I pick the injection site.