Removal of Seat Covers to change seat-belt retractor

First let me start by saying i am in no way a mechanic nor do i lie and tell people that i am i'm just trying to save myself about 300 dollars for something that i think i should be able to do myself. I have a 2004 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck, not extended cab, 5.3 V-8. Obviously it's not a bench seat either. My seat belt re tractor has stopped working i have went to my mechanic and he said that once this happens the re tractor has to be replaced and of course that specific part can only be obtained via my friendly and amazingly overpriced Chevy dealership. I have spent the last hour or so trying to find some sort of instructional on how to remove my drivers side seat cover without destroying it. The only thing that i have been able to find shows the individual using a razor blade to cut the back of the seat off and then using a sewing machine to put it back together but i know there has to be a way that doesn't employ the use of a razor blade. I've got the head rest removed as well as the bottom piece of plastic where the lever for the seat to recline is, i have also removed the bolt that holds the seat belt in place on the bottom of the seat. I have discovered at the base of the back of the seat and the back of the bottom of the seat you can kinda unlatch a small piece of plastic that holds the bottom of the seat and the back together however that still doesn't give me enough excess seat cover to remove it. Does anyone know the best way to go about doing this without tearing my seat up??? I have contemplated just taking out the drivers seat and trying to replace it out of the vehicle but i can only find one bolt on the side of the seat with the lever to recline and even after removing that bolt the seat will not move so there must be another bolt holding the seat in place that i can't see. If there's anyone that can give me some sort of assistance or insight it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

P. Blanchard