Russian bodybuilder facing double amputation after years of synthol injections
A bodybuilder dubbed “Russian Popeye” is facing the possibility of a double amputation after years of synthol injections caused one of his muscles to burst.
A bodybuilder dubbed “Russian Popeye” is facing the reality of a double amputation after years of pumping biceps with grim cocktails.
Kirill Tereshin, 29, has been injecting synthol into his arms for many years and is now facing the possibility of losing both.
The MMA fighter is reportedly suffering from a severe infection that medics are struggling to treat.
Doctors have said in order to save his arms, he needs several skin-graft operations, but they have been unable to go ahead with the surgery due to Tereshin’s poor medical test results.
Doctors may not have time to stabilise his condition before proceeding with the surgery, it has been said.
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The synthol injections caused tissue fibrosis followed by necrosis, seriously affecting his health.
Disturbing footage he shared online reportedly shows that one of his muscles has “burst”, leaving a hole in his arm and rotting tissue.
Tereshin began injecting synthol into his arms in 2017 and made headlines around the world as “Popeye” after his oversized arms drew comparisons with the iconic cartoon character.
He injected the highly dangerous chemical directly into his veins despite warnings about his bodybuilding obsession.
Tereshin – who has received international attention for his fake muscles – has already been under the knife in an effort to save his arms, but his muscles became so infected that the wounds could not heal, it was reported.
In 2019, he was persuaded to undergo urgent treatment by Alana Mamaeva, 32, a leading campaigner for victims of botched plastic surgery.
Tereshin uploaded a video of his arms after the surgery with lumps of flesh, he claims were muscle extracted from his body.
He said: “These are my treasures” and then added: “Get yourself a piece, it’s ‘sale’ time.”
He added: “It feels very weird, very unusual. My arm feels lighter.
“Now I am going through a rehab, soon we will proceed with the next surgery.”
Dr Dmitry Melnikov has extracted pounds of flesh and the petroleum oil the Russian injected to bizarrely bulk-up his triceps and biceps.
Holding one massive 3lb (1.3kg) lump taken from one of Tereshin’s 24-inch (10.1cm) arms, he said: “Here it is, scar tissue with fragments of muscles.”
In one video, the failed MMA fighter is seen asking the surgeon: “How many muscles have I lost?”
Melnikov, from Sechenov Moscow State Medical University, earlier warned him that he could die if the dodgy implants stayed.
After the surgery the medic told him: “The problem is that this is the petroleum jelly.
“You injected this so thoroughly, that it spread in the muscle and killed it.”
The surgeon later revealed: “We have done 25 per cent of the repairs.”
This article was originally published in The Sun and is reproduced here with permission
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