Last September, Linda Evangelista spoke publicly about why she had been a recluse for several years. In 2016, Linda had tried CoolSculpting, a non-invasive cosmetic procedure which claims to freeze and then “melt away” fat. The procedure did not work on Linda, and she quickly developed hard “bulges” around her face, neck and body. Last year, Linda sued the company behind CoolSculpting. I did a lot of reading about Linda’s lawsuit at the time, and I honestly thought she had a good case, and it was also clear that she had a lot of public sympathy too, including a People Magazine cover story back in February. Well, that People cover might have done the trick, because Linda and CoolSculpting have now settled out of court.
Linda Evangelista is ready to move on after an experience with a cosmetic procedure that she had claimed left her “disfigured” and with a life spent “hiding.”
“I’m pleased to have settled the CoolSculpting case,” the supermodel, 57, wrote in a statement posted to Instagram Tuesday. “I look forward to the next chapter of my life with friends and family, and am happy to put this matter behind me. I am truly grateful for the support I have received from those who have reached out.”
Evangelista first shared her story on Instagram in September in a lengthy statement posted to the social media platform, explaining how CoolSculpting — a popular, FDA-cleared “fat-freezing” procedure that’s been promoted as a noninvasive alternative to liposuction — left her “permanently deformed” and “brutally disfigured.”
A source close to Linda also told People that: “With this settled and the recent Fendi ad campaign, Linda is ready to try to move on. After literally years of hiding, she’s out and about. She feels all the goodwill from her industry, other supermodels and her fans, and it makes her feel loved.” Yes, it wasn’t just that Linda was physically compromised by the procedure, it was the fact that she lost years of work and socializing. She watched as her glamazon peers kept on working into their 40s and 50s and Linda couldn’t. Anyway, I’m glad that they settled the issue and I’m glad Linda is out and about now. The fashion industry is prepared to give her a lot of love.
Cover courtesy of People, additional photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.
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- MET Gala 2015 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – Arrivals,Image: 242381249, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Not available for publication in Germany, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Wenn / Avalon
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- 2015 Fragrance Foundation Awards – Red Carpet Arrivals,Image: 250209323, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Ivan Nikolov / Wenn / Avalon
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- Model Linda Evangelista attends the 2015 Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrating the exhibition ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA, on 04 May 2015. Photo: Hubert Boesl/ – NO WIRE SERVICE -,Image: 524083387, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Hubert Boesl / DPA Picture Alliance / Avalon
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- 125556, Linda Evangelista at Harper’s Bazaar Celebrates Icons by Carine Roitfeld at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. New York, New York – Friday September 5, 2014. Photograph: © Darla Khazei, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 London Office: +44 208.090.4079 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 530970556, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Darla Khazei, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Charles attends an advent service held at Holy Trinity Brompton church in London, Britain, December 9, 2021.,Image: 647144842, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
I’m glad she’s doing better. If I remember correctly, the company didn’t disclose these possible side effects to her, right? So unethical.
But I’m in a mood today so I’ll say this about plastic surgery and anything plastic surgery adjacent. I have no problem wtih it in general. But our attitude towards it bothers me. These are still often invasive procedures. They carry risks. We’ve begun to treat cosmetic procedures like they’re the same as a trip to the nail salon. Freezing your fat? It sounds brutal and of course it has side effects! Everything that works has side effects.
The fact that she hid away for years because she was allegedly “brutally disfigured” is so sad. We as women really need to find a way to not base our entire worth on our looks. Easier said than done and of course she’s a model but we could rule the world at some point if we just stopped waisting so much time. The time and energy we put into worrying and hating our looks. I could have gotten a second degree.
I agree with all this. Personally, I think all these procedures are kind of scary. I’ve heard too many horror stories, I guess. For some people I understand it’s work the minimal risk, but they need to be clear about what those risks are. I wish this beautiful woman didn’t feel the need to put herself through any of this.
Wow, CoolSculpting around her face and neck?! That seems extremely tricky. Having had CS done on my abdomen and lower back, I can attest it’s kind of brutal. I can’t imagine doing something like that to MY FACE. I’d question the ethics of a cosmetic procedure provider who would even go along with it.
You have actually had the CS procedure done. What made it brutal? I guess I always questioned if CS was “real” as I don’t know anyone who has had it done. Seems scary to me.
I’m really happy for her. Now she doesn’t have to get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.
My thought exactly. The industry seem to love their original supermodels and it looks like they will support her
She was a bit younger than Evangelista and her other peers, but I miss seeing Alek Wek in fashion. She has a cute Instagram though.
Ha! I tried to use that line on an employer once, it didn’t work. It was a fashion industry adjacent job so luckily she knew the quote and laughed instead of firing me.
I am so glad that she brought this out in the open. I wanted to try the procedure and knowing this could happen, changed my mind.
She had the procedure in 2016. So she lost at maximum 3 years (likely less) of ‘work and socialising’. Because I doubt there were a squillion fashion shoots and socialising going on 2020 /21. Everyone knows cosmetic procedures are dangerous and carry risks. They settled because they didn’t disclose (their fault) if that is what happened, but mostly because of her fame.
Linda, I missed work and ‘socialising’ too for way more years because of an accident that wasn’t my fault but I got no one to sue because I’m not rich and famous. My sympathy for your distress is – 1000. Your choice, your consequences.
This. I think the customer should have some responsibility in looking up possible risks as well. I have no idea what happened since I was not in the room when things were discussed, but this case is pure priviledge talking and I’m sorry sh— hit the fan but hey, Linda should also have known better.
If she’s permanently deformed and brutally disfigured, how is it that she is able to resume modelling as soon as the lawsuit is settled.? Not at all trying to be snarky, this is such an obvious question mark.
She had lipo, that’s really the only way to remove it. She may have also needed a face lift to tighten the skin.
To give some context, CoolSculpting first received FDA approval in 2010. It was revolutionary as it was the first procedure to kill permanently fat cells (although it provided no tightening effects). Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia was identified early on as rare complication, but I suspect it is much more prevalent than it was ever reported given how many cases I personally know of.
By 2017 technological advancements identified that if you heat adipose tissue to 42 degrees C that would also cause fat cell death, and combined with RF you could simultaneously tighten the skin during a single treatment. The second generation of CoolSculpting also had its FDA approval revoked but the OG procedure is still being marketed and used despite being second class technology at this point.
In the photos in her February People Magazine profile, she is definitely beautiful, but she also revealed fleshy, squared-off protrusions under her arms and around her midsection, which are/were indeed visible in form-fitting clothing. (They would not be visible in a floaty top or layers, I don’t think.) She said that these hard protrusions returned even after a first and second corrective liposuction. (The second was in 2017, she said — she may have had more procedures since, and they may have even been successful. I don’t know.)
She explained that her ire is more about chafing and bleeding when she walks and being unable to fully lower her arms to her sides. I feel for her, because waking up in a dramatically different body is traumatizing — but these imperfections would be easy to “work around,” if that makes sense. Speaking out about it was the right thing to do careerwise, though, because it explains the gap in her resume, puts any rumors to rest, and makes her limitations clear to designers who still want to work with her.
I’m curious as to what the settlement was. Anyone have any info or educated guesses?
Preposterous to do it on your face, blame the clinic, not the machine! I’ve had it done about 3 times years ago and didn’t pay attention to the warnings, beauty shortcuts all have risks and vanity is a strong enough vice to overrule logic. The results are so minimal that ya, you still have to diet and exercise, she’s not a victim, just a kirstie alley
So after doing cool sculpting you are not pleased with the results? I was thinking of doing it but I don’t want to throw money away if I can’t see the results
I had it done and got no results