What have you all done about the stretch marks and shrinking extra skin? I would love to avoid surgery

Stretch marks and excess skin are usually there to stay. You can try building up muscle underneath the skin to re-fill some of it out otherwise surgery or dealing with it are the only options.

Stretch marks will not completly go away. You however can lighten and fade them quite a bit if you continue applying cream consistantly. I had success with Excel Skin Care's cream. Don't become anxious and stop, your marks will stay the same. Excel has a store on Amazon and that's where I get the low prices. I continue to use their anti aging serums.

I believe the amount of excess skin depends on several factors, genetics, weight gain and loss over your life, pregnancies and natural elactisity of your skin. I have had 2 surgeries (tummy/boobs and face) with one to go (arms). It's not for everyone, luckily clothes hide a lot.

If the stretch marks are caused by the pregnancy, it should fade away by itself eventually. But id it is caused by weight loss, some cases require laser treatment or something like that. If those are just minor stretch marks, skin lightening creams can be used (the one without hydroquinone please). You can also try natural products like lemon juice, etc. But if it's on the part of your body that is unlikely to be seen, don't bother removing it anymore.