Laura Damiani sat down with Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley on ITV's This Morning to warn others about the dangers of plastic surgery.
"It was unbearable. I knew there was something really wrong"
Speaking candidly, she explained: "I had been self-conscious about my breasts since the age of 14.
"One breast was larger than the other and I felt very awkward and uncomfortable."
After years of unhappiness, Laura decided to visit a plastic surgeon - and, after carefully researching his credentials, was confident to go under the knife.
But, when she woke up, she quickly realised that something had gone horribly wrong.
She said: "I was in severe pain.
"It was unbearable. I knew there was something really wrong."
Her surgeon quickly discovered that the blood flow to her nipple had been cut off - and that the nipple was, effectively, rotting away.
She said: "I had lost the blood flow - the circulation to my nipple. It was rotting inside - the tissue was dying.
"There was a huge amount of leakage and I needed severe corrective surgery.
"The wound took a year to heal."
The trauma led to the breakdown of Laura's relationship - and has rendered her unable to breastfeed should she have children in the future.
Pleading with viewers to learn from her mistakes, she said: "I know there are always implications with surgery - but you never think it's going to be this bad.
"I wish I could have just accepted how I was and not gone through this."
Surgeon Brian Mayou, who joined Laura on the This Morning couch, echoed her words, insisting viewers considering plastic surgery need to ensure that surgeons are in the British Association of Plastic Surgeons.
He added: "My advice is that you go and check out the clinic, the surgeon, the aftercare package before making any decisions."
Have you ever suffered from botched plastic surgery? Tell us about your experience via the comments box below now.