Many surgeons are comfortable seeing you the day before surgery and operating the next day. It helps the surgeon to have as much information as possible. Lengthy letters or emails explaining what you see as the problem and what you would like to achieve, help the surgeon decide if you are realistic and a good candidate.
Photographs of you and your problem are essential and will help your doctor. Most cosmetic surgery problems are easy to see or you would not be considering surgery. You should take good photographs from all directions, close up and distant. You can often send them to the doctor by email or regular mail. In most cases you should not expect to get the photographs returned.
After you return home see if the doctor can give you the name of a local surgeon or plastic surgery organization in case of emergencies.