Linda Evangelista, a former supermodel known for being one of the most photographed individuals in the world, has been living in complete isolation for over five years. Now that she’s finally ready, she will tell everyone her tale.
Evangelista’s story appears in this week’s issue of PEOPLE. Evangelista filed a lawsuit against the parent company of CoolSculpting, Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc., in September, seeking $50 million in damages on the basis that she has been unable to work ever since undergoing seven sessions of CoolSculpting in a dermatologist’s office between August 2015 and February 2016, and that the treatment rendered her permanently disabled.
“I had a great time walking around on the catwalk. Now that I’ve had that experience, I hate bumping into someone I know “On the cover article for this week, she describes how she was crying while telling the event. “I am unable to continue living in secrecy and embarrassment any longer. I simply couldn’t continue to exist in this state of constant agony any longer. I’m ready to make my voice heard at last.”
When Evangelista had her treatments, it took her about three months before she noticed that she had gained weight in her chin, thighs, and bra region. The regions that she had targeted for reduction suddenly showed signs of expansion. And hardening. After that, they were numb.
Evangelista states that she “tried to repair it myself, believing that I was doing something wrong,” and as a result, she started a diet and increased her amount of exercise. “I eventually came to the point where I stopped eating altogether. I was beginning to fear that I was going crazy.”
She made an appointment with her primary care physician in June 2016. “I took off my robe for him,” she says to herself now. “I was sobbing, and in the midst of my sobbing, I remarked, “I haven’t eaten, and I’m famished.” What exactly am I getting wrong?” She claims that when he gave her the diagnosis of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), he said, “I was thinking, “What the heck is that?” when I saw it. And he warned me that no amount of dieting or exercise would ever be enough to heal it, no matter how hard I tried.”
The freezing technique causes the afflicted fatty tissue to thicken and expand, which is an uncommon adverse effect that affects fewer than one percent of CoolSculpting patients. PAH is an acronym for peripheral arterial hypertension. “That’s the thing that upsets me the most,” says Dr. Alan Matarasso, a cosmetic surgeon in New York City and a professor at the Northwell School of Medicine (he has never treated Evangelista). “Patients come in to have something lowered, only to find out that it will now be increased. The other issue with PAH is that there is a possibility that it may never go gone completely. In many cases, the regions that were impacted are no longer possible to be treated with liposuction in the same way that they would have been in the beginning.”
In a statement, a representative for CoolSculpting stated that the procedure “has been well studied with more than 100 scientific publications and more than 11 million treatments performed worldwide.” The representative also mentioned that known rare side effects such as PAH “continue to be well-documented in the CoolSculpting information for patients and health care providers.”
A technique known as cryolipolysis is used in the CoolSculpting procedure, which received FDA clearance in the year 2010. The process, which is modeled after the way frostbite manifests itself in people, involves inserting a roll of fat between two paddles, which brings the temperature of the fat down to a level below that freezing. According to studies, the therapy may decrease targeted fat deposits by as much as twenty percent, and it is popular since it can be obtained at medical spas and it requires relatively little time for recuperation.
Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, a dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who has participated in clinical trials on behalf of CoolSculpting and claims to have successfully carried out the procedure thousands of times, describes it as “a safe, effective treatment that’s worthwhile and has a high patient — satisfaction rate.” “I consider it a safe, effective treatment that’s worthwhile and has a high patient — satisfaction rate,” she says. “You will be an excellent candidate for CoolSculpting if you can squeeze off an inch of fat with your fingers. It is the most effective fat-reduction method that does not include incisions.”
Evangelista’s doctor contacted CoolSculpting about Evangelista’s PAH. (Zeltiq has chosen not to comment on the precise charges that Evangelista has made, citing the ongoing lawsuit.) Evangelista claims in her lawsuit that she was advised “on the eve” of her liposuction that Zeltiq would pay for the treatment only if she signed a confidentiality agreement beforehand. Evangelista’s liposuction was scheduled for the day before the lawsuit was filed. She chose not to, and in June of 2016 she had the first of two full-body liposuction procedures, both of which she claims to have paid for herself.
Evangelista states that in the aftermath of the operation, she had to wear compression garments, girdles, and a chin strap for a period of eight weeks. In such a case, “the PAH might make a comeback.” And, according to her, it did even after she had a second liposuction procedure in July 2017.
She claims that it was not even marginally improved in any way. “These protrusions are known as the bulges. And they are challenging. If I go around in a dress without a girdle, I will have to chafe to the point that I will practically start bleeding. So it’s not like soft fat rubbing, it’s like harsh fat rubbing.” According to her, her posture has also been negatively impacted since she is unable to “Position my arms so they were parallel to my sides. She pulls down her blouse to see the rectangular form of PAH protruding from under her arm and says, “I don’t believe designers are going to want to outfit me with that hanging out of my body.” She says this as she exhibits the shape of PAH.”
She continues by saying, “I don’t look in the mirror.” “That doesn’t look like me.”
This is a striking departure from the well-known Linda Evangelista that the rest of the world first became familiar with thirty years ago. She racked up some 700 magazine covers over the course of her career and served as a muse to industry icons such as the late Karl Lagerfeld, who designed Chanel, and Steven Meisel, a well-known photographer. Her face, which resembled that of Sophia Loren, combined with her instinctive understanding of photography and style helped her achieve this. Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, is quoted as saying, “No model was more magnificent than Linda.” Wintour featured Evangelista on the cover of the illustrious publication a total of eleven times.
Regaining her self-esteem and confidence is an important part of Evangelista’s current narrative, as well as her ongoing legal battle.
“Why do we believe it’s necessary to act in such a manner? I was constantly aware that time would pass me by. And I am aware that there are a variety of experiences that the human body may have. Yet, I had no idea that I would end up looking like this, “She mentions the protrusions while adding that she has no idea who she is anymore. “Not only do I not identify myself in my physical form, but I also do not recognize myself as the same person anymore. “Her,” the speaker says, referring to the supermodel Linda Evangelista, “is kind of gone.”
But, she does not abandon the hope that others would find solace in hearing her traumatic experience if they are going through anything similar.
She adds, “I hope that I can assist other people who are in the same circumstances as me and shed some of the guilt that I have been carrying around with me.” “I want to accomplish it.”
She claims that this is one of the primary reasons why she originally broke her silence on Instagram a year ago, which led to support from her fellow supermodel tribe, including Cindy Crawford, who applauded her at the time and said, “Your bravery and real soul are eternally recognized and legendary!”
And although Evangelista works hard every day to get back what she’s lost, she is certain of one thing: “I’m not going to hide anymore.”
