A mother-of-one who was just minutes away from death has revealed how she contracted a deadly flesh-eating bug after undergoing liposuction.

Jayney Nascimento, 48, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, borrowed £20,000 from her mother for the operation in June 2017 in the hope of having skinnier legs.

But after the procedure in a private UK institution, Jayney caught necrotising fasciitis and was left fighting for her life in a medically-induced coma and almost had her legs amputated.

Jayney, an administrator, says: 'I paid for an expensive cosmetic procedure so I would feel comfortable showing my legs off. Instead, I nearly lost them and I hate them more now than I did before the operation.

'Having the surgery is my biggest regret because I nearly died and have been left scarred for life.

Jayney (pictured now) who's now recovered physically from her ordeal, had about 20 skin grafts in order to repair the damage, but says she had PTSD

Jayney Nascimento, 48, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, paid £20,000 for a liposuction which left her with gruesome scars and butchered legs because of a flesh-eating bacteria

Pictured: Jayney's was in excruciating pain due to the condition. The mother-of-one said she could not walk for three months following the ordeal

'However, I am grateful to be alive and that my daughter still has her mum.'

In June 2005, Jayney was diagnosed with Lipedema, a condition where there's an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs and buttocks.

Jayney's legs ballooned three times their size, going from a size 10 to a 16.

Jayney says: 'For 12 years I felt absolutely ridiculous. My legs were a size 16 while my top half was a size 10.

What is lipoedema? Lipoedema is a chronic condition typically affecting the legs and thighs. The build up of fat is not caused through obesity, and diet and exercise have little impact on the condition. Research suggests it is caused by hormonal changes such as those coming at pregnancy or puberty. It is typically treated through liposuction. Source: NHS lipoedema fact file Advertisement

'I refused to wear dresses or skirts as I was just too embarrassed - I even wore trousers when the weather was scorching.

'I dreamed of having skinny legs and wearing a bikini.'

Jayney borrowed £20,000 from her mother, Diane Powell, 72, a retired pharmacist, to undergo liposuction on her legs after discovering there was no cure for her condition.

In June 2017, Jayney had the two-hour operation.

Jayney says: 'Afterwards my legs were in agonising pain, but I was so excited to see my skinny pins.

The mother-of-one said she thought every was normal when she left the hospital following the procedure, but quickly experienced excruciating levels of pain in her legs (pictured now)

'Doctors discharged me from the hospital.

'Within a few hours of arriving home, the pain in my legs became excruciating.

'The next day, my body felt ice-cold even though I was wrapped up in blankets.

'I worried that I'd contracted an infection, but I put it down to the medication making me feel weird so I didn't speak to a doctor.'

NECROTISING FASCIITIS: THE VICIOUS FLESH-EATING BACTERIA Necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotising' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock are also common complications. Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons. There are 500 to 1,500 cases reported a year, but 20 to 25 percent of victims die. Advertisement

Three days passed and Jayney's health deteriorated.

Her daughter, Jasmine Nascimento, 14, discovered her passed out in bed and called an ambulance.

Jayney says: 'I woke up in hospital, I thought I'd been only unconscious for an hour.

'A doctor told me I'd been in an induced coma for two days. He said I'd caught necrotising fasciitis which had eaten away at my legs.

'He also said I'd been just minutes away from death and was lucky to be alive.

'I burst into tears.'

Necrotising fasciitis is a disease where bacteria releases toxins that damage the tissue.

Jayney says: 'Mum revealed that doctors wanted to amputate my legs while I'd been unconscious but they managed to stop the infection spreading.

'I felt so thankful to have survived but couldn't believe that a simple procedure had done this.'

During the next three days, Jayney refused to see her legs.

Jayney says: 'I finally saw them for the first time three days later and immediately felt sick.

'My right leg had no flesh so I could see my bones, they were black and smelt foul.

'My left leg had had skin grafts, but there were holes everywhere.

'It looked like reptilian skin.

'I'd undergone liposuction to make me feel more confident about my legs, now they were half-eaten.'

During the next month, Jayney underwent 20 skin grafts on her right leg and then started physiotherapy.

Jayney said she could see her bone in the days following her admission into hospital, had her flesh had almost completely been eaten away

Jayney in hospital following her liposuction. Jayney said she was put in a two-day coma after her 14 year old daughter found her passed out in her bed

Jayney's legs while in hospital, one week after contracting the life threatening bacteria which butchered her legs

Three weeks later, in August 2017, Jayney was finally sent home after being in hospital for two months.

Jayney says: 'I was forced to use a zimmer frame as I couldn't walk, and had to move in with Mum as she had an electric stairlift.

'Thankfully my friend agreed to look after Jasmine, but it was horrible being away from her.'

It took Jayney three months to learn to walk again and she moved back home in December 2017.

At first, Jayney could not bear to look at her raw legs, and said it made her feel sick. Pictured one week after catching the flesh-eating bacteria

Jayney's scarred legs. Doctors told the woman she was lucky to be alive when she woke up from a two-day-long coma

Jayney says: 'I quit my job as a support worker at a children's care home, as I could no longer run around after the kids.

'Instead, I got a desk job as an administrator.

'Strangers stared at my legs whenever I wore a skirt or dress.

'All I wanted was skinny legs and now my legs were completely scarred.

Happy Jayney with boyfriend Karl Goodridge and daughter Jasmine, 14. Jayney said that two years on, Jasmine was trying to help her mother with self-confidence by taking her out and complimenting her all the time

The mother-of-one said she has PTSD following the ordeal, and wanted to raise awareness on necrotizing fasciitis

Karl, (right) Jayney's new partner, tells her she's beautiful everyday, and could not be more supportive

'My plans for swimsuits and holidays after my liposuction disappeared.

'Now it's been two years since I caught NF.

'My amazing daughter is helping me gain my confidence back by taking me out and complimenting me all the time.

'I've also met a new partner, who also tells me I'm beautiful every day.

'I want other people to know about NF and recognise the symptoms I had.

'I have PTSD from what happened, but I am just trying to stay positive and be happy that I am alive.

'I paid £20,000 for surgery but almost paid the ultimate price, my life.'

Jayney with a friend before the operation. In June 2005 Jayney was diagnosed with Lipedema, a condition where there's an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs and buttocks

All Jayney wanted was slimmer legs after years of being ridiculed for her shape. She borrowed £20,000 from her retired mother to pay for the procedure