Linda Evangelista claimed she has been ‘brutally disfigured’ from a cosmetic procedure as she explained her lengthy absence from the spotlight on Wednesday.
The supermodel, 56, took a tentative step back into the public eye when she blamed her ‘reclusive’ behaviour on a disfiguring procedure. In a statement shared to Instagram, the Nineties-icon claimed she had been ‘permanently deformed’ due to a rare side effect from a cosmetic procedure.
According to Linda, she had undergone a CoolSculpting procedure to ‘decrease’ her fat cells, but instead the procedure ‘increased’ her fat cells, a peril she insists she was not warned of, so is now seeking legal action.
Dramatic return: The supermodel Linda Evangelista, 56, claimed in an Instagram statement on Wednesday that she had been ‘permanently deformed’ after a CoolSculpting procedure allegedly caused a rare side effect (pictured left, in 2017, and right in 2005)
Rare adverse effect: She claimed she had developed Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia, a condition in which fat cells increase rather than decreasing after a cryolipolysis procedure
Linda’s statement read: ‘Today I took a big step towards righting a wrong that I have suffered and have kept to myself for over five years…
‘To my followers who have wondered why I have not been working while my peers’ careers have been thriving, the reason is that I was brutally disfigured by Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting procedure which did the opposite of what it promised…
‘It increased, not decreased, my fat cells and left me permanently deformed even after undergoing two painful, unsuccessful corrective surgeries. I have been left, as the media described, “unrecognizable.”‘
The model claimed she wasn’t properly warned of the potential side effects associated with the CoolSculpting procedure. She went on: ‘I have developed Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia or PAH, a risk of which I was not made aware before I had the procedures…
Changing look: Linda shared snaps on social media in 2019, yet kept her face largely obscured beneath hats
‘PAH has not only destroyed my livelihood, it has sent me into a cycle of deep depression, profound sadness, and the lowest depths of self-loathing…
‘In the process, I have become a recluse. With this lawsuit, I am moving forward to rid myself of my shame, and going public with my story. I’m so tired of living this way. I would like to walk out my door with my held held high, despite not looking like myself any longer.’
During a cryolipolysis procedure, also known as body sculpting, a device that’s usually set below freezing temperature is applied to fat deposits, which causes cell death in the fat tissue.
That was then: Linda is pictured in 2016 in Tokyo, in one of her most recent appearances
The body can then pass the dead fat cells.
She described developing Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia, a rare condition sometimes observed after similar procedures in which adipose tissue (or body fat) increases after procedures known as cryolipolysis, even though they usually decrease adipose tissue.
According to Healthline, the increased fat deposits aren’t harmful, but they also don’t appear to go away on their own over time. The ‘very rare’ condition is most common in men who have undergone cryolipolysis, though it can still affect women.
Linda singled out the Allergan subsidiary Zeltiq for allegedly performing the botched procedure without informing her of the potential negative side effects.
CoolSculpting is the original form of cryolipolysis. Areas are sucked into a handpiece and cooled so fat cells freeze, die and are excreted. One session is needed, but can be repeated after 12 weeks. Each treatment takes an hour and results are seen from around three weeks
Sarah Michelle Gellar was unveiled as a CoolSculpting ambassador last year.
Speaking at the time, she detailed that while she is incredibly fit and healthy she struggles with difficult to shift areas of fat. She said: ‘I had had such a positive experience with the procedure [Coolsculpting®] (and the results)…
‘I was able to target those specific areas with an incredible result and with only an hour of my time (I even managed to get through a few chapters in the book I was reading) so you know that’s a win for me.’
Linda’s post elicited an outpouring of sympathy and supporting from the model’s admirers and friends in the fashion industry.
Moschino Creative Director Jeremy Scott penned: ‘You are and always will be a supermodel now adding super role model of courage to your glorious resume. I love you’.
Mad Men star January Jones said: ‘Love that you’re reclaiming your story. This strength and bravery supersedes any superficial outward appearance. An icon is an icon is an icon. Always.’
Stunner: Linda got her start in modelling at the age of 16 when she took part in the Miss Teen Niagara beauty pageant, where she was spotted by a representative from Elite Model Management (pictured in 1997)
Evangelista’s fellow supermodel Cindy Crawford wrote: ‘Linda — your strength and true essence are forever recognizable and iconic! Bravo!,’ while Gwyneth Paltrow shared her love with a heart emoji.
Fellow supermodel Helena Christensen shared a moving comment for her old friend.
She penned: ‘It would’ve taken immense courage and strength to write these words. I can honestly say that I broke down in tears reading this…
‘Not only because I knew in my heart you somehow had been quietly going through something deeply personal and disturbing but also because I thought of all the scars life leaves on us all, whether physical or emotional and how long we suffer mostly in silence and alone.
All star support: Linda was met with gushing support from her celebrity friends
‘It is so important and beautiful when someone steps out of the shadow and are brutally honest and real. Thank you for being beautiful inside and out.’
Naomi Campbell, who soared to fame alongside Linda in their heyday, wrote: ‘Elos I applaud you for your Courage and strength to Share your experience and not be held hostage by it anymore .. You know I love you…
‘We love you and here for you always Right by your side .. I can’t imagine the pain you gone through mentally these past 5 years ., your free of it now….
‘Remember who you are , and What you have achieved and your influence and all the lives of people you have touched , and still doing so to this very day by sharing your story . Proud of you , and support you every step of the way’.
Usually safe: The procedure Evangelista had normally uses below-freezing temperatures on fat tissue deposits to kill the fat cells, allowing the body to pass them; seen in 2012 in NYC
Linda previously told the Mail On Sunday that she hadn’t had any work done and hoped to grow old gracefully.
She said: ‘There was a picture of me in the press recently just after I’d had a facial, in which I was wearing no make-up. It was claimed that I had had this and that procedure done, and it was rubbish…
‘I probably will have surgery – not right now, but I am getting close. If it’s important to me I will have it, and announce that I’ve had it.’
The model muse was best known in the nineties as one of the world’s six supermodels, a group which also included Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss.
On her side: Fellow supermodels Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen shared moving comments to support her, while Gwyneth Paltrow posted a heart emoji (pictured in 2005 in Milan, Italy)
Linda got her start in modelling at the age of 16 when she took part in the Miss Teen Niagara beauty pageant, where she was spotted by a representative from Elite Model Management.
Her unique and versatile look meant that Linda was able to snag a multitude of modelling jobs, quickly becoming one of the highest paid models in the industry.
Since then, she has starred in campaigns for brands including NARS, Fendi, L’Oreal, Chanel, Talbots and Moschino.
These days she spends less time on the catwalk, but Linda is still a regular fixture in magazines and ad campaigns.
As of 2014, Linda was worth approximately $18million (£11.7million).
She has one child, an 14-year-old son named Augustin, with former flame, French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, who is now married to actress Salma Hayek.
Glam: Linda is seen at the Met Gala in 2015