Use of site-enhancing-oil injections for bodybuilding tied to life-threatening complications: Study

Germany: Application of site-enhancing oils (SEOs) for liquid body contouring is a risky procedure that can lead to systemic and life-threatening consequences, says an article published in Clinics in Dermatology.

Liquid body contouring with intramuscular injection of site-enhancing oils for muscle mass augmentation is becoming increasingly popular in bodybuilding. Its immediate and long-term health repercussions are unknown, and post-injection problems are little reported in the medical literature. In this paper, Doha Obed and colleagues describe a group of individuals who had post-injection problems after attempting liquid body contouring using SEO injections on their own.

Researchers discovered ten patients with a background of single or multiple SEO usage in a retrospective investigation. All of the patients were men (mean age, 37 years; age range, 23 to 60 years) who presented between May 2016 and July 2021. These patients came to the plastic and reconstructive surgery departments with a variety of local and systemic problems. All patients had a history of single or numerous SEO injections and presented nine years later with varying problems.

The majority of patients reported painful nodular indurations and swellings in the injected muscles. Two patients displayed infection-related symptoms such as fever, erythema, and local inflammatory findings. In addition, one patient had a severe type of nonparathyroid hypercalcemia. Four individuals were eventually surgically treated. A total of four patients were operated on. Although all four patients reported symptom alleviation following surgical excision, some side effects, such as nonparathyroid hypercalcemia were not resolved.

To conclude, in severe situations, surgery may be the sole therapeutic option and should be undertaken as soon as possible. The researchers urge sportsmen and medical professionals to be aware of the dangerous adverse effects of these injections, as well as the possibility for systemic and life-threatening consequences.

Guidelines for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are required. To raise awareness among athletes and medical professionals, educational methods should be used.

Reference:

Obed, D., Krezdorn, N., Harik-Chraim, E., Freystaetter, C., Radtke, C., & Vogt, P. M. (2022). Complications after liquid body contouring with site-enhancing oil injections. In Clinics in Dermatology. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.03.001