One thought? Start a "future happiness" savings account/fund. Down the road, if you find you really want surgery, use it for that. If instead you decide you are fine with your skin, take a fantastic family vacation or two with it.

PS - I am plannning on surgery. I'm not sure I would be so eager if my stomach and thighs looked as good as yours!

The reason I had reconstructive surgery had nothing to do with how my skin looked, so I can't tell you what I'd do in your body just from looking at you. My reason was that my excess skin was preventing me from doing the things I wanted to do where exercise was concerned. No compression gear in the world would let me do jumping jacks, for example. The skin made exercise uncomfortable - it would bounce when I ran, the skin on my arms and legs increased fatigue, some yoga poses were challenging, etc. Since I lost weight so that my weight wouldn't keep me from doing what I wanted to do, it was annoying to me that I was STILL prevented from doing the things I wanted to do by my skin. So it had to go!

If I lived in your body, and your skin prevented me from doing the things I wanted to do, I'd pursue reconstructive surgery.

I love all the questions you asked,I actually had the same ones.I am seriously considering surgery with Dr Sauceda also. I am new to all of this including the posting,so I hope I am doing it correctly. Did you have your surgery and how was it? Thank you!

I know nothing about NYC geography, but a number of people here like Capella. NYCMom did consults with a number of plastic surgeons in the area too. (Although she ultimately went with Dr. Michaels in Maryland/DC.)

Good luck! For me, recovery was a huge pain due to the muscle tightening, so just be really aware of what your lifting restrictions will be post-op. And, hopefully, you have help at home!