Underground and illegal cosmetic surgery procedures are a major worry for health officials, and a recent case underlines their concern. An investigation by the Mississippi attorney general's office claims that a woman's death was caused by a buttock injection performed by an unlicensed individual named Morris Garner, who also goes by the name Tracey Lynn Garner, according to KSDK.com. Garner is biologically male, but lives as a woman.

The victim, Karima Gordon, allegedly died from a blood clot caused by the foreign substance injected into her buttocks, which blocked the flow of blood to her arteries. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Gordon said that in order to save her, her entire buttock would have to have been removed down to the bone. According to the affidavit, "brain surgery would have been less invasive," the news source reports.

"This is the first case of its kind in Mississippi," said Assistant State Attorney General Patrick Beasley, according to the Clarion Ledger. "We know this wasn't her only client. We're reaching out to anyone who may have received an injection from the suspect. If anyone has had a shot, contact us. You're not in any trouble. The call can be anonymous. We want to know how widespread this was. We don't know if anyone else had died."

Cases like these should serve as a warning to those considering plastic surgery. It's never worth the risk of going to an unlicensed individual simply to save on cost. Board-certified plastic surgeons offer safe, secure and successful procedures, and will be on hand to help should any complications surface post-surgery. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery offers a find-a-surgeon tool on their website to help individuals locate an experienced, board-certified surgeon in their area.