History Main / FakeMuscles

[[quoteright:231:[[WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fake_muscles_ling_231x400_2549.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:231:It's hard to make a man out of him.]]

Many people would love to have a muscular physique to show off, whether it be to impress peers, intimidate enemies, or attract amorous attention. However, some of these are too impatient or lazy to put in the necessary training, and want to take a shortcut. Others may not want to grow their muscles permanently, because they only need it as a temporary costume or disguise. In either case the solution is to get fake muscles for show, usually by stuffing a large amount of padding inside one's shirt, wearing a muscle suit, or even painting muscles on. Just be careful not to attempt any task that actually requires great strength.

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow'' on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', where Scratchy bulks himself up at the gym, and shows off against Itchy. Itchy attempts to pop his muscles with a nail like you'd see if the muscles were fake, but doesn't work since these are real. The solution? Itchy stings him with the nail several dozen times, causing Scratchy to become woozy from blood loss.

** One person who's had this is Rodrigo Alves, a Brazilian-born Trans-Atlantic flight attendant who's known as the "real-life [[Franchise/{{Barbie}} Ken]]" for his all-encompassing use of plastic surgery to sclupt his appearance. In addition to liposuction and everything he's had done to his face, he received silicone implants for pecs and abs, and had his calves reshaped. That's how he has a perfect, chiseled six pack despite never working out.

* Make-up artists can make actors appear more muscular or lean by creating the illusion of more muscle definition. For example, the actors in ''300'' got highlights to make their six-packs look more separated.

** When used by bodybuilders, an SEO is most likely to be used to bring up the size of the biceps, calves, or deltoids, especially if these are naturally lagging body parts for the individual. Given how expensive the legit products are and the mechanism by which the oil inflates the muscle, it doesn't really work unless you have significant muscle there to begin with. An SEO can also be used to correct asymmetries, for example if the left bicep is smaller than the right bicep without sight enhancement. The drawback is that depending on the amount it might erase the visible muscle separations and texture which are judged in competitive bodybuilding, and a shot gone wrong can cause an infection in and around that muscle with a giveaway misshapen or swollen appearance.

* Make-up artists can make actors appear more muscular or lean by creating the illusion of more muscle definition. For example, the actors in ''300'' got highlights that emphasized the separation of their six-packs.

Sometimes a hard and strenuous workout isn't worth the effort to get muscles, or the character just isn't that well-built. So the next best alternative is getting fake muscles for show, usually by stuffing a large amount of something inside one's shirt, wearing a muscular suit, or even painting them on. Just be careful in not actually doing anything that requires great strength.

* Andy's stitch-job on Woody's arm in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' has this effect.

** SEO can be harmful to the body if misused, particularly because non-professional bodybuilders who just want to get as cartoonishly big as possible will sometimes inject their muscles with literal ''liters'' of cheap, often non-sterile substances such as olive oil or petroleum jelly that were not designed for this use. This can result in infections, scarring, and blockage of blood flow, with amputation or death a real possibility. Brazil is especially known for its number of extreme oil-injecting bodybuilders, who get to grotesque proportions and even put their lives at risk in pursuit of ever bigger size.

** When used by bodybuilders, an SEO is most likely to be used to bring up the size of the biceps, calves, or deltoids, especially if these are naturally lagging body parts for the individual. It can also be used to correct asymmetries, for example if the left bicep is smaller than the right bicep without sight enhancement.
** The downside is that significant SEO use results in an unnatural swollen appearance, and erases the visible separations and texture which are judged in competitive bodybuilding. It can also be hazardous to the person’s health, especially if they inject cheaper substances that were not intended for this use. Brazil is especially known for its number of extreme oil-injecting bodybuilders, who get to grotesque proportions and even put their lives at risk in pursuit of ever bigger size.

** The downside is that significant SEO use results in an unnatural swollen appearance, and erases the visible separations and texture which are judged in competitive bodybuilding. It can also be hazardous to the person’s health, especially if they inject substances that were not intended for this use. Brazil is especially known for its number of extreme oil-injecting bodybuilders, who get to grotesque proportions and put their lives at risk in pursuit of ever bigger size.

-->-- '''Donald the Shark''', ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''

* Make-up artists can make actors appear more muscular by creating the illusion of more muscle definition.

* There are various oils or fats that bodybuilders can inject into their muscles in order to make them appear larger than they actually are, known by the catch-all term sight enhancement oils (SEO). The most well-known is Synthol, which was invented in the mid-nineties by German bodybuilder Chris Clark, and consists of 85% oil, 7.5% lidocaine, and 7.5% alcohol. The downside is that heavy SEO use results in an unnatural swollen appearance and erases the visible separations and texture which are judged in competitive bodybuilding. It can also be hazardous to one's health, especially when people inject substances that were not designed for this use. Brazil is especially known for its number of extreme oil-injecting bodybuilders, who get to grotesque proportions and put their lives at risk in pursuit of ever bigger size.

** One person who's had this is Rodrigo Alves, a Brazilian-born Trans-Atlantic flight attendant who's known as the "real-life [[Franchise/{{Barbie}} Ken]]" for his all-encompassing use of plastic surgery to sclupt his appearance. In addition to liposuction and everything he's had done to his face, he received silicone implants for pecs and abs, and had his calves reshaped. That's how he has a perfect, chiseled six pack despite never going to the gym.

* Most Halloween superhero men's and boys' costumes have stylized padded musculature these days.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': [=SpongeBob=] obtains a pair of inflatable "Anchor Arms" to impress Sandy, though said arms prevent him from doing something simple as lifting a cup. By the end of the episode, his charade fails after failing to lift a heavy weight.

* There are various oils or fats that bodybuilders can inject into their muscles in order to make them appear larger than they actually are, known by the catch-all term sight enhancement oils (SEO). The most well-known is Synthol, which was invented in the mid-nineties by German bodybuilder Chris Clark, and consists of 85% oil, 7.5% lidocaine, and 7.5% alcohol. The downside is that heavy SEO use results in an unnatural swollen appearance and erases the visible separations and texture which are judged in competitive bodybuilding, and it can also be hazardous to one's health. Brazil is especially known for its number of extreme oil-injecting bodybuilders, who get to grotesque proportions and put their lives at risk in pursuit of ever bigger size.

* There's a so-called "real-life [[Franchise/{{Barbie}} Ken]]" whose muscles are ''implants''. He actually has little to no upper-body strength.
* Synthol injections. To give a basic idea, some bodybuilders tend to cheat, not with steroids, but with oils and fats into their muscles in order to make them appear larger than they actually are. This can make the muscles appear bigger... but also look like water balloons under the skin. [[NauseaFuel Especially if the injected area ruptures]].

[[quoteright:231:[[Disney/{{Mulan}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fake_muscles_ling_231x400_2549.jpg]]]]

* ''{{Disney/Mulan}}'': During "A Girl Worth Fighting For", Ling strides out a river proudly displaying enormous new muscles... until the water drains out of his clothes and he's back to his skinny self.

Sometimes a hard and strenuous workout isn't worth the effort to get muscles, or the character just isn't that well-built. So the next best alternative is getting fake muscles for show, usually by stuffing a large amount of something inside one's shirt, or simply wearing a muscular suit. Just be careful in not actually doing anything that requires great strength.

* Facing a possible AlienInvasion, ''Series/TheGoodies'' decide to scare them off by convincing the aliens that humanity is a race of supermen. Cue the Goodies dressing up in superhero tights and inflating their biceps with bike pumps.