90s Supermodel Linda Evangelista Says Coolsculpting Procedures Left Her 'Permanently Deformed'
Linda Evangelista, one of the most famous and sought-after supermodels of the 90s, has recently come to the public to announce that she was left "disfigured" by CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is a procedure meant to get rid of excess fat cells underneath the skin, freezing and killing them. The body then naturally breaks them down and flushes them out.
However, Evangelista claimed that the exact opposite happened to her, increasing her fat cells and developing "hard, bulging, painful masses" under her skin in the areas where the procedure was done.
Supermodel Linda Evangelista in Miami Beach, Florida | Photo: Venturelli/GC Images via Getty Images
DIAGNOSED WITH PAH
It has been reported that the 56-year-old suffers from paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, a very rare condition caused by a fat-freezing attempt, resulting in fat enlargement or body cavities.
According to Evangelista, she has filed a lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics, the parent company of CoolSculpting, and has come forward with her story after suffering in secret for 5 years.
The supermodel said that Zeltiq offered to cover the costs of the corrective liposuction surgeries she was forced to undergo following her PAH diagnosis.
She wishes to be able to walk out the door with her head held high.
However, the day before the surgery, the company told her that they would only do it if she agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement to "release Zeltiq from any and all claims."
NO SOLUTION
Evangelista refused and went through with the surgeries, but sadly, they didn't help as "the fatty hyperplasia returned" and resulted in "immense keloid scarring" in the affected areas.
The supermodel revealed that the disfiguration led her to a deep depression and she became a "recluse." She also developed severe anxiety and agoraphobia.
Linda Evangelista at the Christian Dior Couture sponsored party, "An Evening of Nouveau Glamour," at The Frick Collection in New York City | Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
LEFT TRAUMATIZED
The fact that she was left unrecognizable, along with the emotional trauma, caused her to miss out on several job opportunities, as well as the chance of joining fellow models at the 2017 Versace show.
It has been reported that CooSculpting is one of the most well-known manufacturers of FDA-approved fat-freezing machines, but that the procedure, like any other surgery, carries a risk.
Evangelista, one of the most accomplished models of all time, having worked alongside Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, said that by coming forward with her story she hopes to get rid of her shame.
She added that she has grown tired of living this way and that she wishes to be able to walk out the door with her head held high even though she doesn't look like herself anymore.