GRAPHIC WARNING: This article contains images and footage some readers may find distressing.
Kirill Tereshin, AKA "Popeye", was the bloke who became an overnight internet sensation for the simple fact that he's got abnormally-large biceps.
And no, it's not because he loves an "arm sesh" and a couple of protein shakes down at his local gym.
Advert
It's because he injected petroleum jelly into them a few years back.
Yes, really.
And the swelling has gotten so bad that it's beginning to hinder him during day-to-day life, with doctors warning that Popeye could potentially lose his arms - or even his life.
But after months of waiting, the 24-year-old has finally undergone surgery to remove the hardened cartoon-like jelly from his biceps.
Advert
Although it certainly won't be the last time he goes under the knife.
"I'm only 24, and my immune system is so far coping with this inflammation, but I really do not know what will happen next," he told East2West News.
"That is why I started the surgeries to get rid of this nightmare."
"I bulked up my arms when I was 20 due to my own stupidity. I did not think about the consequences."
When the swelling was at its worst, it's understood Popeye's guns had a circumference of around 60cm and weighed an extra three pounds each.
Advert
But after having to wait over a year to go under the knife due to the coronavirus pandemic, he was eventually seen by leading Russian surgeon Dmitry Melnikov.
"Petroleum jelly saturates the muscles, under skin tissues and the skin itself," Melnikov said after Popeye's first surgery.
"All that has to be removed, but we need to keep the vein, nerves and other functions of the limb.
Advert
"Petroleum jelly is not designed for injection, only external application.
"Kirill injected about three litres into each arm. It saturated the muscle tissues, blocked blood flow.
"As a result the tissue dies and gets replaced with a scar which is as tough as a tree, you can even knock on it and hear the usual sound. We have removed all this.
"He had high fever, strong pain, and weakness."
Advert
While his social media fame continued to grow, so did the pain being caused by the huge implants.
But thankfully Popeye in the safe hands of surgeons now.
"I am very lucky that there are doctors who took me on," Popeye said.
"The hardest surgery will be on my biceps... the nerve responsible for the arms' sensitivity is inside.
"God forbid something happens to this nerve and I cannot move my arm.
"I really worry about this. I am very afraid.
"I should have thought about this earlier, I know. I blame myself, I know I'm guilty."
Featured Image Credit: East2West News / Instagram @ruki_bazuki_official