Tulsa, Oklahoma (OK) Liposuction, Abdominoplasty & Tummy Tuck by
Gregory E. Ratliff, M.D.
Dr. Gregory Ratliff Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Gregory E. Ratliff, M.D. Plastic Surgeon in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The power to change can be transforming! Cosmetic surgery has allowed many people to feel more satisfied with themselves and the way others see them.

Dr. Greg Ratliff and his staff at the Plastic Surgery Center of Tulsa offer an array of professional services to help meet your individual needs. These include breast enhancement procedures, tummy tucks, liposuction, facial procedures, and more.

Dr. Ratliff’s experience in performing breast augmentation surgery, and the number of women he has successfully treated, place him among the leading specialists in this important field.

Dr. Ratliff is board certified in plastic surgery, he is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a teacher of other plastic surgeons. These important qualifications are not shared by all doctors who perform cosmetic surgery.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality services in an atmosphere of support and respect. We are committed to achieving EXCELLENCE, and we constantly honor the trust our patients place in us.

This Web site provides a complete introduction to the program Dr. Ratliff founded, including the opportunity to view some of the results he has achieved for others.

For some, diet and exercise can never seem to rid them of specific areas of fat on their bodies. For these individuals, liposuction offers an attractive option. This procedure can be used on areas, such as the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks or neck, with impressive results. Because liposuction only requires a small incision into which a narrow tube for suction is placed, it also offers patients much faster recovery times than other plastic surgery procedures. Liposuction is not ideal for everyone. It works best for those who have worked to reduce their weight through diet, exercise, and lifestyle change, and who still have fatty areas. It is not ideal if you are overweight or obese.

What to Expect
The procedure involves inserting the narrow tube (cannula) into fatty deposits, breaking up fat cells, and suctioning them out using a vacuum pump or syringe. The procedure can be performed on several areas on your body during a single session. After surgery, you will likely wear a snug elastic garment over the treated area to control swelling. General discomfort will last approximately a week, but you can return to work within a few days. Most people begin walking and moving normally the next day and return to strenuous activity within a few weeks. Stitches in the incisions will be removed or will dissolve on their own.

Your body will be noticeably different very soon after surgery and the changes will be even more apparent in four to six weeks when swelling subsides. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help keep the fat from accumulating in the area again. Complications from liposuction may include infection, fluid accumulation, and possibly blood clots. Fluid loss during the procedure and after is closely monitored.

For women and men with excessive skin and fat in their middle section resulting from pregnancy or weight loss, the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a potential solution. Most people who undergo tummy tucks are generally extremely pleased with the outcome and are often much more comfortable wearing tight clothing and even swimming, sometimes for the first time in years.

The tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure that removes fat and skin and tightens the muscles of the abdomen wall. For many, exercise and a healthy diet will not be enough to remove excess fat and skin. For those people, a tummy tuck is a possible solution. If you are planning on losing significant weight or getting pregnant, you should postpone the procedure. If the fatty areas that are problematic for you are only below the navel, you may be a candidate for a less complex procedure called a partial abdominoplasty, also referred to as a mini-tummy tuck.

The tummy tuck requires the largest incision of any plastic surgery procedure, usually from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. The skin is separated from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. Extra skin is then trimmed and stitched together and your navel is stitched into its new position. A temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.

What to Expect
Because of the extensive surgical procedure, swelling will likely be significant for several days and you should arrange for someone to assist you with daily activities for a couple of days. The procedure is generally performed in an outpatient setting, but is sometimes performed in a hospital with an overnight stay. You will not be able to stand straight immediately, but should begin walking as soon as possible. Most return to work in approximately two weeks.

This procedure will leave a scar on your lower abdomen, but it will fade significantly and lighten over time. This scar will be below most waistlines on clothing and bathing suits. Results of the surgery will last many years and will be most effective if you exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Complications, such as infection and blood clots, are rare, but can occur. Infection can be treated with drainage tubes and antibiotics.