Beauty Treatment Gone Wrong: Disfigurement Caused by Fat-Zapping Procedure.

CoolSculpting, a medical device that freezes fat cells, has generated over $2 billion in revenue, but for some patients, it can result in severe disfigurement. The side effect, called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), occurs when the fat grows, hardens, and lodges in the body, sometimes even taking on the shape of the device's applicator. Allergan Aesthetics, the company that owns CoolSculpting, says the risk is rare, occurring in 0.033% of treatments, but a New York Times examination indicates that the risk may be considerably higher. Some patients have had to undergo multiple surgeries to correct the issue, and Allergan has offered to help cover the costs, contingent on signing a confidentiality agreement.