Liposuction remains one of the most common cosmetic procedures, with more than 289,000 individuals undergoing the surgery in 2010, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

However, patients need to be vigilant in choosing a doctor to perform liposuction procedures, as underground clinics are popping up around the country due to the procedure's popularity.

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a 19-year-old woman was recently rushed to the hospital following a procedure done in an apartment by unlicensed, unqualified individuals.

According to WMBF News, doctors say the woman is lucky to be alive following the surgery. She was brought to the hospital in hemorrhagic shock, with cuts on her stomach, arms and legs that were not sutured closed.

"The incisions were not closed. They were open and draining," Dr. Ralph Cozart, who was on-call at the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center at the time, told the news provider. "But the problem was she wasn't given the proper fluids to replace the fluids that were suctioned out. The equipment was not sterile. They did not have sterilization equipment at all. They were using bleach to decontaminate the instruments."

Police arrested three people in connection with the case and charged them with running an underground cosmetic surgery ring out of a bedroom.

Liposuction is a high-demand surgery for many who cannot eliminate fat with exercise and a healthy diet. During the procedure, fat is removed from the body through a hollow metal tube inserted into a small incision. The procedure, when done by a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, leaves only minute scars, often as short as one-half inch or less in length.

While complications from liposuction surgery are rare, it is essential for those considering the procedure to ensure their doctor is a licensed, board-certified plastic surgeon.