Michael Wolfeld, MD

Since a hair transplant is an autograft (transplanting follicles from one part of the body to another) it  will not lead to grafts being rejected.  However, if you have a type of alopecia called scarring alopecia (uncommon scalp disorders which can permanently damage the hair follicle and replace it with scar tissue) then transplanting hair in this scenario can lead to loss of grafts.  It is best to have a thorough exam prior to your procedure and if there is any uncertainty then your physician should perform a scalp biopsy. 

Using minoxidil 5% once a day will still be effective and can reduce the irritation sometimes caused by this treatment. Rubbing your scalp in the normal course of applying minoxidil should be fine. 

There are a wide variety of protocols when it comes to PRP treatments. Some physicians combine the PRP with additives, such as Acell, or combine the treatment with microneedling and dermarollers. The type of PRP centrifuge and the frequency of injections also vary among practices.  At Bernstein Medical, we use the Emcyte Pure PRP System which provides a double centrifuge technique which seems to optimize the concentration of the platelets. 

With telogen effluvium the shed hair should return on its own, so PRP would most likely be a waste of time and money.  I guess it is possible that PRP may stimulate quicker regrowth but, to my knowledge, there are no scientific studies to support this. PRP seems to have its greatest effectiveness in reversing the miniaturization due to androgenetic alopecia but even in these cases the response is modest.   

You will need to have your blood drawn at the same location where you will be having the PRP treatments. If a technician is drawing the blood, perhaps you can ask the doctor to do it.