Linda Evangelista Has a Surprising Take on Botox After Being "Disfigured" From Cosmetic Procedure

When it comes to Linda Evangelista's beauty philosophy, it's all about putting her best face forward.

The '90s icon—who graced the cover of Vogue's September issue with fellow supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington—recently discussed the balancing act of aging while also wanting to maintain her appearance.

"I don't mind and I never did mind aging," the 58-year-old told the magazine in an article published Aug. 11. "Aging gets us to where we want to be, and that's for me a long life.

But just because Linda has embraced this stage in her life, that doesn't mean she hasn't dabbled with age-defying treatments.

"I want wrinkles—but I Botox my forehead so I am a hypocrite," she candidly shared, "but I want to grow old."

This isn't the first time the supermodel has opened up about turning to cosmetic procedures to look a certain way. Back in 2021, Linda alleged she was left "brutally disfigured" after undergoing a non-surgical, fat-freezing treatment called cryolipolysis.

"To my followers who have wondered why I have not been working while my peers' careers have been thriving," she wrote on Instagram in September 2021, "the reason is that I was brutally disfigured by Zeltiq's CoolSculpting procedure which did the opposite of what it promised."

Linda claimed the treatment increased her fat cells instead of decreasing them, leaving her "permanently deformed even after undergoing two painful, unsuccessful, corrective surgeries. I have been left, as the media has described, 'unrecognizable.'"

According to the superstar, she developed paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)—a reported side effect of CoolSculpting, in which the fat cells grow instead of shrink, per Healthline.

"PAH has not only destroyed my livelihood, it has sent me into a cycle of deep depression, profound sadness and the lowest depths of self-loathing," she shared. "In the process, I have become a recluse."

Last year, Linda announced she settled the lawsuit she filed against Zeltiq's parent company AbbVie (which recently bought Botox owner Allergan).

"I'm pleased to have settled the CoolSculpting case," Linda said in an Instagram statement last July. "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 received from those who have reached out." 

E! News reached out to Abbvie at the time for comment but never received a response.

Since coming forward with her alleged botched procedure, Linda has made a triumphant return to modeling.

She closed out the Fendi show during New York Fashion Week last September, sashaying down the catwalk in a vibrant Tiffany blue taffeta gown, silk opera-length gloves and massive diamond earrings. What's more? She also showcased the label's famous Baguette bag, which celebrated its 25th anniversary.

"I was blessed to be part of it," Linda said of the fashion show, "and so grateful to be surrounded by lifelong friends and family."