Traveling to Tulsa for Surgery: A Plan for Chicago Patients

Why patients travel for the right surgeon

Choosing a cosmetic surgeon is a deeply personal decision. Some patients find the right fit close to home. Others decide that a specific surgeon's focus, training, or volume of experience warrants a trip. We see patients from communities across the Tulsa metro as well as from cities throughout Oklahoma and well beyond state lines — including Chicago.

Dr. Angelo Cuzalina founded Tulsa Surgical Arts with a focus on rhinoplasty, deep plane facelift, complex revision surgery, and total-body contouring. The practice operates from an AAAHC-accredited surgery center — the same accreditation standard used by many ambulatory surgical facilities nationwide. Our nationally recognized cosmetic surgery fellowship trains the next generation of surgeons here, and that teaching culture shapes the care every patient receives.

The common thread among traveling patients is straightforward: each one decided that the surgeon and the facility mattered more than proximity. That reasoning holds whether a patient drives from Broken Arrow or flies in from Chicago.

Starting the conversation: your consultation

Every surgical plan begins with a consultation. During this visit you meet your surgeon, discuss your goals, review your anatomy, and receive a candid assessment of what surgery can and cannot accomplish. There is no substitute for this conversation. It is where trust is built and expectations are set honestly.

For out-of-town patients, our consult team can help coordinate timing so you make the most of your trip. Chicago is about 596 miles from the practice — a flight or a long drive — so we work to make each visit count. Call 918-392-7900 or text us to begin scheduling.

Planning your trip and your recovery

Tulsa Surgical Arts is located at 7322 E 91st St, Tulsa, OK 74133. Free on-site parking is available, and you can pull directly to the entrance for surgery-day drop-off and pick-up. Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

After anesthesia you may not drive yourself home, take a rideshare alone, or leave unaccompanied. A responsible adult must drive you and stay with you for the first 24 hours. For traveling patients, our private overnight guest suite exists for exactly this purpose — ask the consult team when you schedule.

On surgery day, bring photo ID, your paperwork, a written list of every medication and supplement you take, and glasses with a case. Wear loose, front-opening clothing and slip-on shoes. Leave jewelry, piercings, and valuables at home. No makeup, lotion, deodorant, or fragrance on surgery day.

How surgery day flows

You arrive at the time confirmed by the surgical team — it is set for your specific case, not a general clinic opening. After check-in and pre-operative preparation, you have a final review with your surgeon and anesthesia provider. You wake in recovery under one-to-one observation, then discharge to your driver or upstairs to a guest suite when that is the plan.

Your driver checks in with you, stays reachable by phone for the entire day, and receives your discharge instructions in person. When any instruction from our written resources differs from what your surgical team tells you directly, their instructions win.

About our practice and surgical team

Tulsa Surgical Arts is home to a team of six cosmetic surgeons. Dr. Cuzalina served as president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 2011–2012 and president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery in 2013. He has performed over 18,000 procedures and holds the SRC Master Surgeon designation in Specialized Cosmetic Surgery for both Face & Neck and Trunk, Breast & Extremities.

Our AAAHC-accredited surgery center and our fellowship program reflect a single priority: holding every detail of patient care to a high and consistent standard. That standard does not change based on where a patient lives. It is the same whether you are local to Tulsa or traveling from Chicago.

Schedule your consultation

If you are considering cosmetic surgery and would like to explore whether our practice is the right fit, we welcome the conversation. Call 918-392-7900, text us, or book online. Our team will help you plan the logistics so you can focus on your goals. Results vary from patient to patient, and a consultation with a qualified surgeon is the best way to understand what is realistic for your anatomy.

Individual results vary. This article is general education, not medical advice.