‘ MRSA ravaged my breast’

operations had started to take their toll and Nicki suffered a breakdown.

She says: “I was taking antidepressants. I told the clinic I wanted my money back but they wouldn’t accept any responsibility – they just offered £1,000 as a goodwill gesture.”

Shockingly, after more failed procedures by the company, who replaced the implant and repaired the hole for free, Nicki couldn’t face any more ops and used masking tape to patch it up.

She says: “I was desperate – by this point I’d been through nine ops. But I started to feel feverish and sick. My mum took me to the clinic and we were told the company had folded and been taken over by someone else. They couldn’t help. But when I pulled off the tape and the wound was green, they called a surgeon, who immediately took the implant out.”

RAVAGED BY MRSA

Doctors then diagnosed Nicki with flesh-eating bug MRSA. She spent three weeks in intensive care fighting for her life.

She recalls: “I had contracted it during one of my operations. I was terrified I was dying. As I recovered, I couldn’t look at my chest – the bug had ravaged my breast, but at least I was alive.”

After leaving hospital, Nicki tried to rebuild her life and started dating a new man, but within weeks they broke up.

She says: “My self-esteem was so low – I hated him seeing my body and we split up. But afterwards I discovered I was pregnant. My ex was supportive and I was excited something positive was happening to me.”

In July 2000, Nicki gave birth to Benjamin. She says: “I felt angry because I was unable to breastfeed, but looking at my son I knew I had to get my confidence back for his sake.”

When her son was one, Nicki went under the knife again. She says: “My appearance was affecting my mental health, so the NHS paid for the op and I was treated at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. They put a new implant in the left breast and took out the right, which had ruptured.”

Nicki then started a new round of ops. She says: “Because the tissue in my left breast was so damaged, I had to undergo several reconstructive surgeries. I had to have an expander to stretch the skin before new implants were put in to make my breasts look normal.”

Over the past 15 years, Nicki has had a staggering 21 procedures and is preparing for her final operation in April.

She says: “The skin around both breasts needs tightening, but hopefully then I can move on. I wish I’d never gone under the knife, it’s had a devastating impact on the last 20 years of my life. I’d advise anyone thinking about it to do their research and not jump into anything quickly.”