Unlike anabolic steroids (AS), which increase protein synthesis, local fillers – also known by the acronym SEO (“site enhancement oil”, which means “site enhancement oil” in the free translation into Portuguese) – do not generate gains in muscle mass. Even so, many bodybuilders use these substances to create the illusion of a more proportional and/or bulky physique.
Products such as synthol, PMMA and even hyaluronic acid are not absorbed by the body. In other words, they generate inflammation in the place where they were introduced – which causes this region of the body to have a greater volume. Therefore, they are used to fill the weak points of the physique.
The popularization of this device, also referred to by the terms “localized application” or “assembly” in the fitness world, occurred in the second half of the 1990s with synthol – composed of approximately 85% oil, 7.5% lidocaine and 7.5% benzyl alcohol.
Commonly confused with EAs, these substances do not interfere with the user’s hormonal axis. However, the use of these products can generate inflammation that causes purulent abscesses or necrosis. If the application is made to a blood vessel, there is a risk of blockages that could result in heart attacks or strokes.
In addition to the harm to health, the practice is frowned upon by most bodybuilders. This is because it is considered a type of cheating and, in most cases, it is clear – when these applications become clear to the referees during a championship, the tendency is for the athlete to be penalized.
The perception of these fillers – usually used to inflate muscles that generally have a less effective response to weight training – can occur in regions of the body that do not have an anatomical shape or have significant disproportions. Another factor that may indicate the presence of fillers is the absence of muscle fibers present at the site.
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