CoolSculpting® Lawsuit

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CoolSculpting® is a non-invasive, fat-freezing procedure that has gained popularity as an alternative to plastic surgery. However, an increasing number of CoolSculpting patients have experienced serious side effects like paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, leading many to file CoolSculpting lawsuits.

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What Is a CoolSculpting Lawsuit?

CoolSculpting lawsuits are a type of product liability lawsuit filed by those who have been injured from a CoolSculpting procedure. These lawsuits aim to secure compensation for victims and hold manufacturers accountable.

Since CoolSculpting is non-invasive, it’s generally considered a low-risk procedure. However, there are serious CoolSculpting side effects — and in some cases, patients may be able to take legal action for their injuries.

CoolSculpting side effects can include:

  • Burns
  • Frostbite
  • Numbness
  • Pain or cramping
  • Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)
  • Skin sensitivity

Arguably the most serious of these side effects is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), which can leave patients permanently disfigured and in pain when fat cells begin to expand and harden.

If you or a loved one developed PAH after a CoolSculpting procedure, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation for the harm you experienced.

CoolSculpting & Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia has emerged as a concerning side effect of the cryolipolysis (fat freezing) procedure known as CoolSculpting.

PAH makes fat cells grow larger instead of shrinking after a CoolSculpting procedure, causing visible lumps to form and harden beneath the skin — and CoolSculpting is the only known cause of this condition. 

The lumps caused by PAH have been described as looking like a stick of butter, which is the same size and shape as the device used on patients during a CoolSculpting procedure.

When CoolSculpting patients develop PAH, it defeats the purpose of their treatment and often leads to physical and emotional pain.

PAH symptoms can include:

  • Emotional distress: Disfigurement from PAH can lead to anxiety, depression, and a decrease in confidence. Some patients have reported not wanting to leave their homes after becoming disfigured from PAH.
  • Firm masses: Instead of fat reduction, the targeted site can become larger, and hardened fat deposits may develop beneath the skin.
  • Swelling and pain: Bulges that develop from PAH can be very uncomfortable, and they may interfere with a patient’s ability to complete daily activities.

Unfortunately, some symptoms of PAH are considered permanent. Even if patients are able to undergo corrective surgeries, there is no guarantee these procedures will be successful.

As information about PAH becomes more widespread and doctors see an increase in cases, more lawsuits will likely be filed against those responsible for these injuries.

CoolSculpting Recalls & FDA Concerns

Medical device recalls remove harmful or defect products from the market and seek to make users aware of the dangers linked to the recalled devices.

Over the years, multiple CoolSculpting products have been recalled by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) due to their potential to cause harm to patients.

CoolSculpting recalls have included the following products:

  • The CoolCurve™ ZELTIQ Vacuum Applicator was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Allergan, in 2017. The recall was initiated because of the risk of frostbite, skin discoloration, and mild scarring associated with the applicator.
  • The CoolSculpting Elite System, introduced in 2020, replaced the earlier version. However, in June 2021, certain batches of CoolSculpting Elite applicators were recalled, since they caused adverse skin reactions.

Additionally, the FDA has received multiple reports of adverse events linked to CoolSculpting procedures. In 2022 alone, there were more than 1,900 reports filed, with the majority of these involving patients who had developed PAH.

While these recalls and reports have cast a shadow on CoolSculpting, the procedure is still FDA-approved at this time.

Who Can File a CoolSculpting Lawsuit?

You may be able to file a CoolSculpting lawsuit if you or a loved one:

  • Underwent a CoolSculpting procedure
  • Experienced health complications like PAH as a result

People who were injured from a CoolSculpting procedure only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit due to state laws known as statutes of limitations.

The CoolSculpting statutes of limitations vary from state to state, but they typically range from 2-3 years.

An experienced attorney can help you determine if you may be eligible to file a CoolSculpting lawsuit.

How to File a CoolSculpting Lawsuit

Our partner attorneys strive to make filing a CoolSculpting lawsuit as stress-free as possible. They’ll handle all of the legal details for you, so you can put your time and energy toward healing and spending time with the people you love.

It’s important to be prepared and informed when pursuing legal action. Learn about the steps to file a CoolSculpting lawsuit below.

1. Get a Free Case Review

The law firms we work with provide potential clients with free consultations to determine if they may be eligible to file a CoolSculpting lawsuit. This discussion can also be used to see if a law firm is a good fit for you.

2. Gather Evidence

If you have a case, your lawyer will collect evidence to prove that your injury was caused by a CoolSculpting procedure.

Medical records, related expenses, and photo or video evidence of your injury may be used to help prove your case.

3. File Your CoolSculpting Lawsuit

Once your case has been prepared, your CoolSculpting attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf before any legal deadlines.

Throughout this process, your legal team will keep you updated on any changes or progress related to your case.

4. Negotiate a CoolSculpting Settlement

Your lawyer will work to negotiate a CoolSculpting settlement with the defendant(s) that compensates you for your pain and suffering and any expenses related to your injuries.

If a fair settlement is unable to be reached, your legal team can fight for you in court and pursue a CoolSculpting verdict on your behalf.

CoolSculpting Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

While multiple CoolSculpting lawsuits have led to settlements, many of these settlements have been confidential. This means that the amount victims received is not public information.

Did you know?

Linda Evangelista, a Canadian supermodel, sued the owners of CoolSculpting in 2021 for $50 million after she was diagnosed with PAH. Her lawsuit settled for an undisclosed amount.

CoolSculpting settlement amounts will vary for each individual case and will depend on several factors.

Factors that may impact a CoolSculpting settlement include:

  • Medical expenses linked to your injury
  • Lost wages from being unable to work
  • Pain and suffering
  • The severity and permanence of your injury
  • Whether or not you had to undergo corrective surgery

Patients with PAH are likely to receive larger CoolSculpting settlements, as this condition is permanent and may require multiple corrective surgeries.

Our legal partners have secured over $1.5 billion for clients harmed by dangerous medical devices and medications, and they can fight to maximize the compensation you may receive from a CoolSculpting settlement.

Get Help With a CoolSculpting PAH Lawsuit

If you or a loved one developed PAH after a CoolSculpting procedure, you may be able to pursue compensation from a CoolSculpting lawsuit.

Our legal partners: 

  • Can handle cases in all 50 states
  • Have secured over $1.5 billion for victims of dangerous drugs and devices
  • Never charge any upfront or hourly fees

CoolSculpting Lawsuits FAQs

Is there a lawsuit against CoolSculpting?

Yes, many patients have filed lawsuits against the owners of CoolSculpting after developing PAH and other serious side effects related to the fat reduction procedure.

What is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia from CoolSculpting?

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) is a condition that some patients develop after undergoing CoolSculpting procedures.

PAH makes fat cells in the body expand and harden, causing permanent lumps resembling sticks of butter to form.

How common is PAH after CoolSculpting?

It is difficult to determine exactly how common PAH from CoolSculpting is, as many cases go undiagnosed and unreported.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received over 1,900 reports of adverse effects from CoolSculpting in 2022 — and most of these were for cases of PAH.

What is the CoolSculpting model lawsuit?

Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista sued CoolSculpting manufacturers after she was left permanently disfigured following a CoolSculpting procedure.

Linda’s disfigurement occurred when she developed paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, a condition that caused fat cells in her body to expand and harden.

Linda’s lawsuit against CoolSculpting was settled in 2022, but the settlement amount has remained confidential.

How much can you get from a CoolSculpting settlement?

CoolSculpting settlement amounts depend on many factors, like medical costs linked to your injury and whether or not your injury is permanent.

PAH CoolSculpting settlements could range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

An experienced CoolSculpting attorney can help you determine how much your specific case may be worth.

How much does a CoolSculpting lawyer cost?

There are no upfront or hourly fees to work with the CoolSculpting lawyers in our network. Instead, they get paid by taking a percentage of any money they recover for you.

If they don’t win your case, you pay nothing.

Is there a CoolSculpting class action lawsuit?

CoolSculpting lawsuits are currently being filed individually, as there is no class action lawsuit at this time.

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