Scary stories about fake surgeons and faulty doctors have been circulating for decades, but the reality is they’re out there and you could be at risk. In March, six women from Newark, New Jersey wound up in the hospital after receiving buttocks-enhancement surgery from an unlicensed person. Instead of using medical-grade product for the filler, a diluted non-medical silicone was injected into the women—the same product that’s used to caulk around bathtubs.

Although there were no arrests, the six women will face pain and scarring from these illegal injections. They are urgent examples of why people wishing to have cosmetic procedures should look to do so in a proper medical environment by a licensed professional. The risks of going to a black-market doctor don’t match up to the dollars you would save.

The trend of going to underground doctors is growing. People are being roped in by extremely low prices and the illusion of security. If it was life-saving surgery, you would want the best doctor available to perform it. So why not want the same for elective surgery? Always ask questions, and make sure you see a doctors credentials before agreeing to any procedures.