Valdir Segato, a Brazilian bodybuilder known for using synthol injections to enlarge his muscles, died on his 55th birthday.
Segato had been injecting himself with synthol injections for years to increase the size of his biceps, chest, and back. This practice is risky and can lead to serious health issues such as strokes, infections, and even permanent muscle damage.
Inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger and fictional characters like the Hulk, Segato said in 2016 that people often compared him to He-Man and other strongmen. “They call me Hulk, Schwarzenegger and He-Man all the time and I like that,” he said, adding that despite doubling his biceps in size, he still wanted to be bigger.
Doctors had warned him as early as six years ago that continued use of synthol injections could lead to severe nerve damage, muscle deformities, or even limb amputation. Nevertheless, he pushed forward with his extreme bodybuilding goals, growing his biceps to 23 inches and earning the nickname “the monster” in his neighborhood.
Segato documented his transformation on social media, calling himself “Valdir Synthol” on Instagram. Although he had 1.7 million followers on TikTok, local reports indicated he lived a mostly solitary life.
On the morning of his death, a neighbor named Moisés da Conceição da Silva said Segato appeared at their home struggling to breathe and begged for help, saying, “Help me because I’m dying.” He was taken to a local medical facility, but collapsed at the front desk, reportedly suffering a heart attack.
Segato’s obsession began when he was younger and skinny. After being introduced to synthol injections at a gym, he quickly became addicted to the look they gave him. However, the substance offered no real strength—its effects were entirely cosmetic.
Synthol is typically made from oil, benzyl alcohol, and lidocaine. According to Europe PubMed Central, it can cause nerve damage, pulmonary artery blockages, heart attacks, strokes, and infections.
Segato’s friend Fernando Carvalho da Silva summed up his lifestyle by saying, “It’s the risk he takes. He wants to look good and wants to be famous.”