FLATTEN SURFACE > CUT HOLES > UNFLATTEN AND KEEP HOLES

Hello guys, I have exhausted all resources I could muster up and have not found a solution to this.

I have a surface and I want to flatten it, then, put holes on it, then, bring it back to its original form except with the holes that I placed after flattening it.

Is this possible? If so, what feature am I looking for? If not, any alternative? Only way I can think of is to (1) flatten the surface (2) convert the edges of the flattened surface (3) Draw the holes in sketch (4) Wrap the sketch on the original (5) Use the wrapped sketch as trim tool. Is there a more elegant way of doing this?

Thanks all

SolidworksSurfacing