Beta thalassemia minor - how can I increase my hemoglobin for a mommy makeover?

I completely understand how stressful this feels, especially when you’ve done everything right and your numbers still won’t move past 11. With beta thalassemia minor, it’s very common for hemoglobin levels to stay slightly lower than average, even with excellent nutrition and supplementation. Your situation is more about your body’s genetics than effort, so please know this isn’t something you’re “failing” to fix.
Since you’ve already seen a hematologist and have clearance, that’s a very positive sign. For patients like you, there are still a few supportive steps to help optimize hemoglobin in the weeks before surgery:
• Continue iron and vitamin C (as you’re already doing), but make sure you’re using a highly absorbable form like ferrous bisglycinate or heme iron, these are often gentler and more effective. • Add folate and vitamin B12 if you’re not already taking them; both are essential for red blood cell production. • Check ferritin levels: sometimes, patients with thalassemia minor don’t respond well to iron unless ferritin is low. If it’s already normal or high, extra iron won’t increase hemoglobin and could cause stomach upset. • Ask your hematologist if a short course of erythropoietin (EPO) injections or IV iron infusion could be appropriate. These are sometimes used to gently raise hemoglobin for surgical clearance when oral methods plateau. • Stay hydrated and avoid inflammation or infection, since both can temporarily lower your hemoglobin.
Thalassemia minor patients can safely undergo elective surgery as long as they are medically cleared and stable, but it’s important that your surgical team and anesthesiologist understand your baseline so they don’t hold you to a “normal” range that doesn’t apply to you.
You’re doing everything right, stay in close contact with your hematologist, keep your nutrition optimized, and ask about temporary supportive treatments like EPO or IV iron if time is short. You can absolutely get safely cleared with the right coordination and understanding from your medical team.
Dr. Sibel Atalay, MDBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon & Destination Doctor