Linda Evangelista and PAH

This is a response to the recent and unfortunate experience shared by Linda Evangelista regarding her Coolsculpting treatment and the resulting PAH.

What has happened? 

On the 23 of September 2021, Linda Evangelista posted on Instagram about her experience with Coolsculpting and the resulting paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), which has picked up a lot of media coverage. 

What is PAH? 

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) is a rare, previously unreported adverse effect of Coolsculpting. Coolsculpting uses cooling and suction to damage and destroy subcutaneous fat cells without seriously damaging the skin, to reduce the amount of fat in the treated area. After Coolsculpting, some individuals report a gradual enlargement of the treated area. This enlargement is referred to as PAH. Doctors think PAH occurs when the stimulus (the freezing of fat cells) activates a reactionary process in the fatty tissue that thickens and expands the fat cells rather than breaking them down and allowing the body to process and remove them. PAH is only known to occur following a CoolSculpting body contouring treatment. 

Source: Dr. Paul Cox, Medical Director for WIFH 

Is PAH common? 

The reported rate of incidence is 0.0051% of the 1.5 million CoolSculpting procedures performed worldwide. 

PAH typically cannot be confirmed until about 6 months post-procedure, with patients complaining that they are getting bigger in the exact shape of the applicator. 

Source: Dr. Paul Cox, Medical Director for WIFH 

Is CryoSlimming safe? 

Cryoslimming is a non-invasive slimming technology introduced to the US market in 2017. Since then, it has been administered hundreds of thousands of times without a single report of PAH or any other serious adverse effects. 

CryoSlimming is applied using a massage technique in which the technician creates folds in the skin to cool the subcutaneous fat cells via contact with a cold massaging wand, and there is no mechanized vacuum or suction. 

How does CryoSlimming compare to CoolSculpting?

Both CryoSlimming and CoolSculpting are non-invasive treatments designed to improve body contouring, but they differ significantly in their mechanisms of action and safety profiles. CryoSlimming works through neocollagenesis, enhancing collagen production in the skin without damaging fat cells. 

In contrast, CoolSculpting works through cryolipolysis, which freezes and destroys fat cells. One of the key safety advantages of CryoSlimming is that it does not carry the risk of PAH, a rare but serious side effect associated with CoolSculpting where treated fat cells actually enlarge rather than shrink. Neveskin Shape treatments have shown no such adverse effects, making them a safer option for achieving body contouring and skin toning​.