A new CNN report is exposing the risks of a disturbing new trend: DIY plastic surgery. The network interviewed a 47-year-old woman named Apryl Brown who received black market injections in her buttocks to add volume and shape. Instead of giving her a curvier behind, the injections nearly took her life. She developed a staph infection that turned her limbs black and curled, a sign that the tissue had died. Doctors had to amputate her hands, feet and much of her butt and hips.

Too many consumers believe that the “bargain” substances marketed online as medical grade injectables are safe. Brown later found out that the substance injected into her buttocks was actually bathroom caulk, like the kind found in hardware stores. 

Richard Glogau, M.D., a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, tells CNN that you should always err on the side of caution when putting your health and even your life on the line.

“If we live in a world where you buy your Manolo Blahniks shoes at Neiman Marcus or you can buy them online at Zappos and it’s the same shoe, I think you’re expecting what you see on a website as full value and true,” Glogau told the network.

Brown says that growing up as a little girl in Florida, she was often teased for having a flat butt. While it is perfectly reasonable and understandable to want to improve your appearance, you should only do so with the help of board certified surgeons in Miami, like Christopher Craft, M.D. Dr. Craft is an experienced medical professional who can help you safely and effectively achieve your aesthetic goals. Call to schedule an initial consultation today!