Since 1998 · Zagreb & Daruvar
Genetic Test for Hair Loss in Croatia
With hair loss, it is not always easy to predict in advance which therapy will suit a particular person. The genetic test for hair loss helps assess which therapy your body may respond to best. We include the test results in the assessment when choosing a therapy. Before testing, we assess whether the findings could affect the choice of therapy and whether the test is needed in your case.
A genetic test for hair loss can help with the choice of therapy when it is not clear which preparation, given the patient’s individual profile, would have the best chance of working. The test complements the clinical assessment with information on which therapies the body may respond to better, and which less well.
Is this for me?
What the genetic test for hair loss is and what it reveals
Alopecia, or hair loss, can have different causes, from hormonal and genetic factors to stress, nutrient deficiencies, and the effects of certain medications. The most common form is androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary form of hair loss in which genes and hormones play an important role. The genomes of two people are largely the same, but their differences can be one of the factors that influence the response to therapy. A genetic test is one of the tools that can contribute to an individualized choice of therapy.
The test analyzes genetic variants linked to the biological pathways involved in the development of androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium, and in the response to particular therapies. Based on that profile and information about your health and lifestyle habits, an individual therapy recommendation is drawn up.
Who it makes sense for
When the genetic test for hair loss makes sense
The test is not for everyone, and it is not the first step in every situation. It is most useful when a therapy is still being chosen or a change is being considered, because that is when the findings can affect the decision.
Before you start a therapy or change one
If you are just starting treatment for hair loss, the test can help with a more targeted choice of preparation and reduce the number of therapeutic attempts. It is equally useful when you have been on a therapy for a while without results and are considering a change. The findings can then serve as an additional basis for changing the therapy.
Before a hair transplant
A transplant moves hair to areas where there is none, but it does not stop the process in the surrounding, native hair. That is why, alongside a hair transplant, some patients also plan therapy to preserve their existing hair, and the genetic findings can be an additional help in choosing it.
When the test is not needed
If the hair loss has already advanced to the point where follicles are gone across a large area, the genetic findings will most often not change the decision, because no preparation brings hair back where the follicle no longer exists. In that situation it is more useful to assess whether a hair transplant is an option than to run a test that would not change the therapeutic decision. We assess this at the consultation, before any decision about testing is made.
“The genetic test does not treat hair and does not stop shedding by itself. It helps us assess which therapies your body may respond to better, and so choose a preparation in a more targeted way. It is a tool that helps with the decision, not a therapy.” — Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
How it is performed
What testing with us looks like
The procedure itself is quick and simple, while the most important part is interpreting the findings and drawing up the therapy plan.
- Sample
- a swab of the inner cheek lining, quick and painless
- Preparation
- 2 hours without food, drink, or rinsing your mouth
- Results
- ready in a few weeks
- Performed by
- Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
1 · Consultation and assessment. First we examine the scalp and take a medical history, because whether we recommend the test at all depends on the state of the follicles and the phase of the process.
2 · Taking the sample. We swab the lining of the inner cheek with a stick. The procedure is painless and takes a few seconds. For two hours before the sample is taken, you should not eat, drink, or rinse your mouth, so the sample is suitable for analysis.
3 · Lifestyle questionnaire. Along with the swab, we record information about your health and habits, because the genetic result is interpreted in the context of your health and lifestyle.
4 · Analysis in the laboratory. The sample is sent to a specialized laboratory for genetic analysis. The results are ready in a few weeks.
5 · Interpretation and plan. We go through the findings together and, taking the examination and history into account, draw up a therapy proposal. Based on the results, the laboratory can produce preparations tailored to your profile, if that approach is indicated.
See the full price listA realistic timeline
What the findings give you
Assessing the effect of a hair loss therapy takes time. The first visible changes, depending on the therapy, are often not expected before the fourth month, and a reliable assessment is possible only between the sixth and twelfth month of regular use. The findings do not shorten the biological cycle of hair growth, but they can help you choose a therapy with a higher likelihood of response.
That is why the test makes the most sense before the first therapy or when changing one, while the decision is still being made. The use of pharmacogenetics in treating hair loss is a field that is still developing, so the findings speak of probability, not of a guaranteed outcome.
Why us
Why choose us for a genetic test for hair loss
ABHRS Diplomate
Dr. Ana Maletić is the only physician in Croatia with this title, one of 260 physicians worldwide
Croatia’s only ISHRS member
regular membership in the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
One of 6 clinics worldwide
with this level of international certification for hair treatments
The only clinic in Croatia offering all four methods
FUE, DHI, Sapphire, and STRIP; the method is chosen based on your findings and the state of the donor area
Since 1996
the year hair transplant training began at Polyclinic Maletić
Diagnostics and therapy in one place
from the genetic test and TrichoLAB analysis to transplantation, with a treatment plan tailored to your findings
Individualized preparations based on your findings
based on the test results, the laboratory can produce preparations tailored to your profile
The test only when it can affect the decision
if we assess that the genetic findings would not affect the choice of therapy, we will not recommend the test
Who we are
Who will be taking care of you
The Hair Center is led by Ana Maletić, MD, PhD, a specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery. She holds the FISHRS and ABHRS Diplomate titles, is the only physician in Croatia with the ABHRS Diplomate title and one of 260 physicians worldwide to have earned it, and is the only physician from Croatia in regular membership of the ISHRS. In March 2026 she defended her doctoral thesis on the connection between hair transplantation and biopsychosocial factors of health.
Your findings are interpreted by a physician who works in the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss every day and connects them with the examination, your history, and the state of your scalp, so that a suitable preparation or another form of treatment can be chosen, while the indication for a transplant is assessed separately. The Polyclinic has been operating since 1998; it was founded by her parents, and today two generations of the same family care for its patients.
Meet the whole team
Watch
Dr. Ana Maletić on hair
In the videos below, Dr. Ana Maletić further explains her approach to hair loss and the available treatment methods.
Dr. Ana Maletić on hair health and care
Dr. Ana Maletić on methods of strengthening hair
After the test
What changes after the findings
The findings do not change the condition of your scalp — they provide additional information for the decision about therapy. The therapy is chosen taking into account your genetic profile, the clinical findings, and your response to treatment so far, and once a therapy is chosen, the period in which its effect can be assessed is set as well.
That period is longer than most people expect. With therapy for androgenetic alopecia, the first shift is as a rule not visible before the fourth month, and a reliable assessment of the effect is possible only between the sixth and twelfth month of regular use. The biological cycle of hair growth cannot be sped up, which is why it matters to choose the therapy based on the available clinical and genetic data.
A clear therapy plan and an assessment period set in advance can reduce the need for premature switching between preparations. The findings still do not change the speed at which hair grows. Their purpose is to help with the choice of therapy, not to speed up the natural cycle of hair growth.
Sources for the timeline: American Academy of Dermatology (Hair loss: Diagnosis and treatment), Medscape/eMedicine (Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment & Management), the review article “Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: Current Guidance and Unmet Needs”.
Price
Price and the first step
The price of the genetic test for hair loss, the Trichotest, is €335.00. The price includes taking the sample and going through the findings with the physician; if individualized preparations are made after the findings, those are arranged separately.
The consultation is free of charge. At the consultation we examine the scalp and assess whether the test result could affect the choice of therapy, including the possibility that the findings would not change the therapeutic decision. You can also see the prices of all services in the price list, and book an appointment through the contact page for Zagreb or Daruvar. You will find the other scalp therapies and diagnostics in the Hair Center, among them the PRP treatment.
If you have been using a therapy for a long time without a clear effect, the genetic test can be one of the data points that help with the decision to continue or change it. It can be most useful before starting a therapy or at the moment a change is being considered.
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Trichotest
Patient reviews
What our patients say
Reviews taken from our Google Business profiles, Zagreb and Daruvar, translated from Croatian.
★★★★★
“A month ago I had an FUE hair transplant with Dr. Ana Maletić. From the professional side, my hair was done perfectly. I was lucky that my hair did not shed and started growing right away. Dr. Maletić’s expertise is obvious and makes her, without question, the leader in this field in Croatia. But my real satisfaction and gratitude lie in how the Polyclinic treats its patients. They are highly professional, yet approachable and compassionate at the same time. Nurses Matea M. and Valerija left a positive mark on my whole experience and made it more pleasant and calming. To anyone in Croatia looking for a hair transplant, I warmly recommend this Polyclinic. You will get top results and excellent care!”
★★★★★
“I had a hair transplant and I am more than satisfied with this extraordinary, exceptionally professional, life-changing procedure! A big thank you to Dr. Ana, Danijela, Romana, and everyone else who took part in this wonderful experience. My sincerest thanks! Marko S.”
★★★★★
“All praise to the entire staff of the polyclinic. I have already had my second PRP scalp treatment and I can only commend the whole team. I would especially like to praise the doctor for her exceptional expertise, patience, and warm approach. From the first examination to the procedure itself I felt safe and informed. The whole course of treatment was professional and well organized — I received clear and detailed instructions before, during, and after the procedure, which gave me extra confidence. The procedure itself was stress-free, with every step explained along the way, which meant a lot to me. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing, and the staff exceptionally kind and helpful. I am very satisfied with the results so far and look forward to further progress. I definitely recommend it to anyone considering a PRP scalp treatment — you are in safe and expert hands!”
★★★★★
“A few years ago I saw Dr. Ana Maletić for a facial hair correction using the FUE method, which made my beard somewhat denser. The results are fantastic — the work was done with such dedication and care. From the first meeting at the polyclinic she radiated confidence and knowledge of her work, along with a readiness and kindness to answer every question I had. All recommendations for Dr. Ana and her entire professional and friendly team.”
★★★★★
“I have been their patient and admirer for years. They have always known how to make my mom and me feel comfortable and welcome. My mom had a neck lift six years ago, and today I came in for PRP for hair growth. I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you, Ana!”
★★★★★
“I am very satisfied with Dr. Maletić’s results, from the beginning to the end of the hair transplant process. Five months after the procedure my hair looks phenomenal. The results I got, considering the number of grafts transplanted, pleasantly surprised me when compared with other clinics outside Croatia. As for the price, there is no big difference compared to clinics abroad, while the quality and expertise are on the level of top clinics. A big plus is that I did not have to travel outside the country, which made the whole process far less stressful for me.”
★★★★★
“I have rarely experienced such a professional, coordinated, and harmonious team. The atmosphere during the hair transplant was so pleasant that they even treated me to the occasional musical number. That relaxed atmosphere made the boredom of the procedure easier to bear. Although I do wonder whether some of you might be better off on a stage than in an operating room. Once again, a big thank you — I am already looking forward to the results in a few months!”
★★★★★
“A great experience, team, and final result. In short, I had an eyebrow transplant. Everything went exactly as Dr. Ana Maletić explained. The whole team was very kind and professional from start to finish, and I am now at peace because I finally have eyebrows. They look very natural, and the density is just as it should be. All recommendations!”
★★★★★
“A more than positive experience at Polyclinic Maletić, both in Zagreb and in Daruvar. I had a hair transplant and I am very satisfied with the approach and the procedure. I recommend it to everyone, especially to women who, like me, lost their hair after an illness. Once again, thank you to the kind team, and especially to Dr. Ana Maletić.”
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
How is the genetic test for hair loss performed?
The test is simple and painless. A swab is taken from the lining of the inner cheek, and the sample is sent to a specialized laboratory for genetic analysis. Along with the swab, we record information about your health and lifestyle habits, because the genetic result is interpreted in the context of that information. For two hours before the sample is taken, you should not eat, drink, or rinse your mouth.
What does the genetic test for hair loss actually show?
It shows the status of the main biological pathways linked to different forms of hair loss: androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. Based on that, it assesses which therapies your body may respond to better, and which less well. The goal is a more targeted choice of a therapy that, according to the findings, has a higher likelihood of working.
Does the genetic test stop hair loss?
No, and it is important to understand this before you take the test. The test is a diagnostic tool, not a therapy. It guides the choice of treatment, but by itself it does not change the condition of your hair. Hair loss is still treated with the appropriate preparations and procedures, chosen with your findings taken into account.
When is the best time to take a genetic test for hair loss?
The test is most useful at the beginning, while the therapy is still being chosen, or when an existing therapy is not producing results and you are considering a change. It can also be useful when there is a family tendency toward hair loss and a timely start of therapy is being considered. With advanced hair loss, the findings often would not change the therapeutic decision, so the test may not be needed then.
Does the genetic test need to be repeated?
The inherited genetic variants the test analyzes do not change over a lifetime, so the test is as a rule done once. What does change over time is the therapy and the condition of the scalp — and we follow that with an examination and scalp analysis, not by repeating the genetic test.
Is the genetic test for hair loss useful before a hair transplant?
It can be, because a transplant moves hair but does not stop the process in the surrounding hair. In some patients, therapy to preserve the existing hair needs to be planned even after a transplant, and the findings help choose that therapy in a targeted way. We discuss this at the consultation, taking the overall scalp findings into account.