Linda Evangelista, a former supermodel, is suing for $50 million, claiming that plastic surgery “brutally damaged” her and drove her to a life of seclusion. The Canadian supermodel revealed in an Instagram post from 2015 that she had undergone fat-reduction surgery when she was younger.
She posted on Wednesday, “To my fans who have questioned why I have not been working while my classmates’ careers have been booming, the answer is that I was cruelly disfigured by Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting surgery which did the opposite of what it promised.”
Fat-Reduction Surgery
The Canadian supermodel revealed in an Instagram post from 2015 that she had undergone fat-reduction surgery when she was younger.
In a message published on Wednesday, she explained: “To my followers who have wondered why I have not been working while my classmates’ careers have been blossoming, the explanation is that I was horribly disfigured by Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting technique which did the opposite of what it promised.”
She claimed to have had an unusual but potentially serious complication following the procedures: swelling in the treated areas, a condition known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH).
Not only has PAH rendered me jobless, but it has also plunged me into an endless spiral of despair, unhappiness, and self-hatred. It has made me into a hermit,” she admitted.
None of the representatives at Zeltiq Aesthetics, a division of Allergan Aesthetics owned by AbbVie, responded to our requests for comment.
Evangelista sued Zeltiq on Tuesday in federal court in New York, claiming the firm was negligent, had misleading advertising, and had neglected to notify customers of the potential ill effects.
In Conclusion
The lawsuit claims that Evangelista had various surgeries in 2015 and 2016 to eliminate fat from her chin, cheeks, back, and thighs. Despite surgery, the PAH had not been cured.
She claims she is no longer employable as a model and that she has not received any revenue from the industry since 2016, and she is requesting damages in the amount of $50 million for this and other forms of emotional distress.
Cindy Crawford, 55, another top model, praised Evangelista for her lasting legacy, saying, “Linda – your strength and true soul are forever identifiable and legendary!” Bravo!”
