What is synthol and why are bodybuilders using it?

Synthol is a site enhancement oil (SEO) meant to create the illusion of a developed muscle. Due to its cosmetics properties, the substance is a common ”fixer” in bodybuilding, fitness, and modeling. Bodybuilders rely on synthol to hide a lagging body part responding poorly to training. The use of oil to cover a weakness is commonly referred to as “fluffing”.

Synthol is often injected into the muscles of the lower leg (calves), the visible shoulder muscle (deltoids) and the muscles of the upper arms (biceps and triceps).

According to this research, synthol consists of oil (85%), lidocaine (7.5%) and alcohol (7.5%).

The oil used in synthol is normally based on medium-length MCT chains because it’s believed that this gives the best effects. The lidocain in synthol is a local anesthetic designed to reduce the pain commonly associated with site injections while the alcohol is meant to sterilize the mixture. {source}

In the sport of bodybuilding, genetics play a very important role. Most experts in the field believe that your potential in the game is predetermined largely by your genetics. They are right. Almost anyone can get big by using anabolic steroids, but the drugs will not fix all genetic flaws. Besides, there are many more elements to consider besides size (e.g., muscle maturity, proportions, muscle bellies, insertions, muscle shape…etc). Many of those are depending solely on your DNA.

Some stubborn muscle groups just don’t grow regardless of training and drugs. For instance, many famous bodybuilders such as Dexter Jackson, Dennis Wolf and Flex Wheeler had trouble developing muscular and powerful calves despite hard training, drug usage and good coaching.

When bodybuilders find themselves in a similar situation, they often start injecting the problematic muscle group with site enhancement oils or use muscle implants to reduce the obvious weakness.

Synthol Use Is Very Common

Over the last decades, synthol has become a common ”utility” during the preparation of a stage ready physique. However, sometimes the use of site enhancement oils may not be as apparent. For example, in the picture below, Nasser El Sonbaty displays an arm loaded with site enhancement oil. What makes it obvious is the unnatural shape of the arm flexor (biceps), the lack of muscular definition, and the overall “dead” look of the muscles. A less experienced man may fail to spot the synthol. Truth be told, there are experts who can make synthol use appear even more natural.

Image via: bodybuilding.com

Synthol Victims

More and more confused, ignorant and insecure young men are becoming “synthol victims”. In most cases, the oil is injected into the biceps and triceps due to vanity. The picture below illustrates this phenomenon more vividly.

Image via: bodybuilding.com
The “bodybuilder” Moustafa Ismail and his 31-inch arms powered by synthol and stupidity.

Note: Synthol, and SEOs in general, restrict the flow of oxygen and blood into the muscle tissue, depriving it of essential nutrients. This “starvation” actually causes muscle atrophy – the biggest fear of every iron addict. When a bodypart is loaded with large amounts of synthol, the oil can only be drained out through a surgical procedure performed by a medical professional.

Interesting fact: The most popular bodybuilder to abuse site enhancement oils is Gregg Valentino. According to him, however, he did not use synthol to become the ugly monster that he was/is. His official version is that he injected steroids straight into the muscle to inflame it and make it bigger Eventually, he had to undergo surgery to get his life back.

Image via: bodybuilding.com
Gregg Valentino – famous for destroying his body.

Recommendation: NEVER USE SYNTHOL. You don’t get bigger, nor stronger through oil injections. Synthol users look funny and risk their health and dignity for nothing.