Linda Evangelista Says Botched Fat-Freezing Procedure Has Devastating Impact On Relationship With 15-Year-Old Son: “He Shouldn’t Have To Support Me”

Linda Evangelista didn't want to "be a burden" to her son with her fat-freezing trauma.

The 56-year-old fashion icon — who is suing CoolSculpt, the manufacturer of a fat-freezing procedure for US$50 million (S$67 mil) in damages after she was allegedly left "brutally disfigured" due to a rare side effect — insisted it shouldn't be up to her 15-year-old boy to "support" her.

"He shouldn't have to be supporting me. That's not his job."

Evangelista — who would rarely leave her house after the ordeal — admitted she loathes what impact hiding her pain has had on their relationship.

She added: "[Augie] used to say, 'Mummy, do you remember when you used to be fun?' Remember when you used to laugh all the time? How come you don't laugh anymore?' I hate what this has done to my relationship with him.”

The ex-Canadian supermodel is still keen to teach Augie — whose father is 59-year-old businessman Francois-Henri Pinault — that “he is beautiful” as is everyone else.

She said: "It is very important for me to raise him knowing that he is beautiful and knowing that everyone is beautiful. It's so messed up that I truly believe that except it doesn't pertain to me."

She shared her burns for the first time in November last year, and after going public with her condition - named paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) — she warned her son about things he might hear from other people.

She revealed: "I told [Augie] he might be hearing some things, and he said he didn't care, that he's there for me.”

CoolSculpting — the brand name for cryolipolysis, which uses cold temperatures to reduce fat deposits — is also known as body contouring, and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

They added that rare side effects — such as PAH — "continue to be well-documented in the CoolSculpting information for patients and health care providers". — BANG SHOWBIZ

Photo: TPG News/Click Photos