Muscle Injections Almost Cost His Arms

A Brazilian bodybuilder said in the video above for Barcroft Media, and on a Portuguese-language talk show chemical injections helped him bulk up to an incredible size but also ultimately brought him close to danger. Bodybuilder Romario dos Santos Alves of Goiania, Brazil, said he started using a chemical called synthol to help him get extremely large muscles.

Sometimes kids come up to me saying, ‘Mom it’s the Hulk, the Hulk.’ And they hug me, take a photo of me and that’s good.

The bodybuilder commented on the Brazilian talk show “Hoje Em Dia” that by injecting the synthetic substance, he was able to bulk up his biceps size to more than 62 centimeters in circumference. He said his own skin wouldn’t stretch anymore over his enormous muscles, but he became addicted to getting larger.

Wait, what is Synthol?

The actual Synthol is a mouthwash. However, the muscle-developing one is not. Some bodybuilders, particularly at professional level, inject substances such as “site enhancement oil”, commonly known as synthol, to mimic the appearance of developed muscle where it may otherwise be disproportionate or lagging. This is known as “fluffing”. Synthol is 85% oil, 7.5% lidocaine, and 7.5% alcohol. It is not restricted, as it is ostensibly sold for topical use only, and many brands are available on the internet. The use of injected oil to enhance muscle appearance was abandoned in the late 20th century. Its use was revived more recently by bodybuilders. Use of synthol can cause pulmonary embolisms, nerve damage, infections, sclerosing lipogranuloma, stroke, and the formation of oil-filled granulomas, cysts or ulcers in the muscle. Sesame oil is often used, which can cause allergic reactions such as vasculitis. An aesthetic issue is drooping of muscle under gravity. This is some heavy stuff.

What I think…

This is pretty insane if you ask me but to each his own, I guess. What do you think? 😕

Source: barcroft.tv and Wikipedia.