To Cut or not to Cut

“At a time when aesthetic medicine is increasingly shaped by commercial interests and social media trends, To Cut or Not to Cut offers a thoughtful and much-needed corrective.”

Giovanni Botti

Plastic Surgeon | Clinical Professor

To Cut or Not to Cut is a thought-provoking exploration of modern aesthetic medicine, situated at the intersection of science, ethics, and the human experience. It challenges dominant narratives within the beauty industry, exposing the gap between marketing promises and biological reality.

The book examines our growing reliance on quick, non-surgical solutions and reveals their often-overlooked long-term consequences for tissue health, identity, and authenticity.

Combining scientific insight with clinical experience, it offers a new perspective on facial rejuvenation – one that respects the body's intrinsic regenerative intelligence. Particular attention is given to fat grafting, regenerative surgery, and cell-based therapies.

Rather than portraying ageing as an inevitable decline, the authors present it as a dynamic biological process that can be understood, influenced, and, in certain respects, partially reversed.

At its heart, this book places the individual patient at the centre of aesthetic medicine. It explores how people think, feel, and make decisions, arguing that trust, clarity, and psychological alignment are just as important as technical excellence in achieving meaningful and lasting results.

Patrick Tonnard is a plastic surgeon and founder of a private clinic in Ghent, Belgium. For more than three decades, he has been at the forefront of research into facial ageing and regenerative surgery. His pioneering work in fat grafting and stem-cell-based regenerative techniques has earned him international recognition as one of the leading innovators in regenerative aesthetic surgery.

Veerle Cools practised law for more than 30 years before becoming a writer and coach. She transformed a highly technical manuscript into a compelling and accessible book, preserving its scientific integrity while giving it a clear narrative structure and a voice for a broader audience.