A woman who injected industrial silicone into the buttocks of customers as an illegal cosmetic procedure has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

With credit for time already spent in custody, the sentence means Marilyn Reid has five years and three months left to serve.

Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly says Reid "wounded, maimed, disfigured and endangered" the lives of her victims.

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She says Reid was neither authorized to perform cosmetic surgery, nor was she authorized to give injections, but she did both.

Reid, who is from Newmarket, Ont., held her head in her hands and looked down at the floor as she sat in the prisoner's box while Kelly discussed the details of her case.

The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to eight counts of aggravated assault in January.

Court heard that Reid used syringes attached to a caulking gun to inject silicone into women's buttocks in hotel rooms or their homes between April, 2011, and May, 2012.

All but one victim suffered serious health consequences – four almost fatal. Some had to undergo repeated medical procedures and long periods in hospital.

Crown prosecutors had argued that Reid preyed on the vulnerable for profit and asked for a sentence of 10 to 12 years.

Reid's defence lawyer asked for a sentence of about 2 1/2 years – roughly equal to the time Reid has already spent in custody.

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At a sentencing hearing, Reid apologized to the court, saying she didn't realize the consequences of what she was doing.

She said she "never meant to harm anyone."