Thank you for your questions on how to rapidly build your hemoglobin from 11.3 to 13.0. The fastest way to get your blood from 11.3 to 13.0 is a blood transfusion. However, I do not know if anyone how would transfuse blood for a hemoglobin of 11.3. Another way to increase your iron levels and perhaps secondary increase your hemoglobin levels, is with an iron transfusion. An iron transfusion can either be done before your surgery or sometimes during your surgery. Another way is to increase iron in your diet. I would suggest you eat lots of red meat, fortified cereals, beans, etc. I would also suggest you take an iron supplement two or three times a day. If you take calcium, please be sure you do not take it at the same time as iron. Calcium and iron compete for the same receptor. Usually, iron cannot be fixed in several days, but rather takes weeks for it to correct or elevate. Sometimes the iron will not correct. This may be due to either metabolic conditions or even prior surgery like gastric bypass surgery. If your level does not return to “normal”, you need to discuss this with your internist hematologist, gastric surgeon or plastic surgeon. If your hemoglobin does not rise above 12 with therapies mentioned above, you may want to discuss with your plastic surgeon why they have such a restriction on the specific number 12. You may still be able to have plastic surgery with a hemoglobin lower than 12. Thank you for your questions regarding how to build up your hemoglobin level quickly. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call my office. When seeking plastic surgery, please find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon in your neighborhood who specializes in the procedure you are desiring. I hope that I answered your questions regarding hemoglobin and plastic surgery. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen