Supermodel Linda Evangelista, a fashion icon of the 1990s, has shared her painful story. Ten years ago, she tried CoolSculpting to reduce stubborn fat. Instead, she developed a rare side effect called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). After spending nearly a decade hiding from the world after a cosmetic procedure she hoped would refine her figure left her ‘permanently deformed.’
In a recent interview, the 58-year-old reveals she still avoids mirrors and struggles with self-acceptance after developing paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). It is a rare side effect of CoolSculpting that caused her fat cells to harden and expand. Read ahead to know more about the medical procedure and she dealt with it.
“I Don’t Recognise Myself Anymore”: Linda Evangelista
Linda Evangelista by Anthony Sekaloui, Harper’s Bazaar, May 2025. pic.twitter.com/KuEE2VkP2i
Linda recently posed for a magazine, showing her scars. “I’m alive. I’m not done fighting,” she said. She hopes her story helps others. “Talk to your doctor about all risks. Love yourself, even when it’s hard.” Her story sheds light on the hidden risks of non-invasive body treatments and the emotional toll of living with unexpected outcomes.
What Is CoolSculpting?![2 - 2025-04-25T133423.481]( "CoolSculpting")
CoolSculpting is a non-surgical treatment to reduce fat. It freezes fat cells using controlled cooling. The body then naturally removes these dead cells over weeks. Dr Batul Patel, medical director and Dermatologist, The Bombay Skin Clinic, Mumbai, explains: “It’s an only US FDA-approved non-surgical fat reduction method. It’s painless, safe, and needs no recovery time. Over 5 million people worldwide have tried it.”
The procedure targets areas like the abdomen, thighs, or chin, where fat resists diet and exercise. Over weeks, the body naturally flushes out frozen fat cells, leaving a slimmer contour. For most, it’s a low-risk solution but Linda’s case highlights a rare, life-altering exception.
What Happened to Linda?![1 - 2025-04-25T133430.518]( "linda evangelista coolsculpting")
After seven CoolSculpting sessions in 2015–2016, Linda noticed hard lumps under her skin. These were caused by paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). The fat cells grew instead of shrinking. She had painful bulges on her chin, thighs, and underarms. “I couldn’t wear normal clothes. My skin would rub and bleed,” she said. Linda tried surgeries to fix it, but they didn’t work. The mental pain was worse. “I hid from the world. I lost my confidence,” she shared. Even today, she struggles to accept her changed body.
How Common Is PAH?![3 (89)]( "linda evangelista transformation")
-1745575963264.jpg "linda evangelista transformation")
A study published on PubMed found PAH happens in about 1 in 20,000 CoolSculpting cases. But recent reports suggest it might be more common up to 1 in 100 treatments. After Linda spoke out, over 1,100 people reported similar problems to the FDA in 2021. Experts say better training and machines might reduce risks.
Linda’s Decade-Long Battle
After CoolSculpting sessions, Linda’s body rebelled. She underwent two painful liposuction surgeries, which failed to resolve the PAH. The mental toll was worse: “I became a recluse. My spirit was broken,” she shared. Even after settling her $50 million lawsuit against CoolSculpting’s parent company in 2022, she admits, “I’m still learning to love myself, flaws and all.” Her recent photos, showing scars from PAH corrections, a double mastectomy, and lung surgeries, mark her first public embrace of her changed body. “I won. I’m here,” she declares.
Conclusion
CoolSculpting remains popular for its convenience, but Linda’s ordeal reminds us that ‘non-invasive’ doesn’t mean risk-free. While complications are rare, patients must weigh pros and cons carefully. For Linda, healing has meant embracing scars as proof of survival as she says, “I’m alive. I’m not done.” Her courage offers a powerful message: Beauty isn’t about perfection as it is resilience.