Traveling to Tulsa for Surgery: A Plan for Nashville Area Patients

Why Nashville area patients travel to Tulsa for surgery

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 cities throughout Oklahoma and well beyond state lines — from regional neighbors and from national markets alike. The common thread is straightforward: each patient decided that the surgeon and the facility mattered more than proximity.

The Nashville, TN area sits about 512 miles from our practice — a flight or a long drive. That distance is real, and we take it seriously. When someone travels that far, every detail of the experience needs to be planned carefully. Our team is experienced in helping out-of-town patients coordinate their surgical care from first consultation through final follow-up.

The practice and the surgeon

Tulsa Surgical Arts is home to a team of six cosmetic surgeons and operates from an AAAHC-accredited surgery center — the same accreditation standard used by many ambulatory surgical facilities nationwide. Dr. Angelo Cuzalina founded the practice with a focus on rhinoplasty, deep plane facelift, complex revision surgery, and total-body contouring. He is a past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and a past president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

The practice also houses a nationally recognized cosmetic surgery fellowship dedicated to training the next generation of surgeons. That teaching culture means every technique is examined, refined, and held to evidence. It shapes the care every patient receives, whether they travel five miles or five hundred.

Dr. Cuzalina holds the SRC Master Surgeon designation in Specialized Cosmetic Surgery for both Face & Neck and Trunk, Breast & Extremities. He has performed over 18,000 procedures across his career. His education spans a physiology degree, dental surgery training at Baylor College of Dentistry, a medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine, and an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency where he served as Chief Resident.

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. For out-of-town patients, the consult team can help coordinate timing so you make the most of your trip to Tulsa. You can reach us by phone at 918-392-7900, by text, or through our online booking system.

We encourage Nashville area patients to gather their questions ahead of time. Bring a written list of every medication and supplement you take, along with photo ID and any completed patient forms. The consultation is an honest conversation — not a sales pitch. If surgery is not the right path, we will say so.

Planning surgery day and your recovery stay

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 patients traveling from the Nashville area, our practice includes a private overnight guest suite — ask the consult team about it when you schedule. Free on-site parking is available, and surgery-day drop-off and pick-up happen directly at the entrance.

On surgery day, arrive at the time confirmed by the surgical team. You will check in, complete pre-operative preparation, and have a final review with your surgeon and anesthesia provider. After your procedure, you wake in recovery under one-to-one observation, then discharge to your driver or upstairs to the guest suite when that is the plan.

Wear loose, front-opening clothing and slip-on shoes. Leave jewelry and valuables at home. No makeup, lotion, deodorant, or fragrance on surgery day. Bring your phone and charger, glasses and a case — no contact lenses. When any written instruction differs from what your surgical team tells you directly, their instructions win.

Follow-up and staying connected after you return home

Your surgical team will outline a follow-up schedule before you leave Tulsa. Some visits may be coordinated to minimize additional trips. Clear communication matters most during healing, and our team is reachable by phone and text at 918-392-7900 during office hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

If you experience any symptom that feels like an emergency — difficulty breathing, chest pain, uncontrolled bleeding — call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room first. Then contact our office. Your safety is the priority, always. Consult a qualified surgeon to understand the full scope of any procedure you are considering.

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