I see a lot of people who use derma rolling/stamping. Creating small holes in my head feels like it mainly creates damage. Can somebody explain me what it is used for and how it should improve the hair situation?

Reddit posted a full ‘How to Do Microneedling’ here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tressless/wiki/microneedling/

When microneedling is done correctly (controlled damage performed at least 10 seconds in each spot you need the hair to return). The Dr. Pen device offers the best product (see Amazon) as you can get the 34 needle type, length 1.25mm and use it from place to place until you cover your entire area that you are hoping to get your hair back. Once a week seems to be the most effective timing. The wounds that are created, are near the stem cells that trigger hair cycling. These cells don’t like the constant wounds, so they react with wound healing, a component of it impact the stem cells to trigger hair growth as part of the cytokine response by the body to the healing process.

I’ve been relatively stable on oral fin and topical min for past 6 years but noticed increased temple and hairline recession in the past year. Thought dut was next best step but not only did I have testicular pain (which I had on fin) but pain in penis which I’ve never had before on fin so it scared me considering the strong half life of dut. Is oral min my next best step? I have no idea if topical min has been effective for me since I started at same time as fin.

Treating yourself doesn’t sound good to me. Now with dutasteride on board (that is what I think you said), it may take 4-10 months to lose the side effects, unlike finasteride which is much less time to reverse as the half life is only 4-6  hours rather than 5 weeks as with dutasteride. A reasonable alternative may be oral minoxidil, but the real oral minoxidil, not taking drops of the topical and sallowing it. You might consider getting a real doctor to manage your hair loss.

How long after stopping finasteride did it take to recover from sides?

Everyone seems to take a different amount of time to reverse finasteride side effects when stopping the drug. The range in my experience relates to how long you have been on the drug. The range is between 2 – 16 weeks.

I’ve been using finasteride and minox for years and it saved my hair. Ofcourse I am happy with that, but comparing it to earlier, when I was super obsessed with my hair, it seems less important today. Do you think you’ll continue treatments for a long time, even into old age, or at one point not really care anymore?

I just did 3000 grafts on a wealthy and successful businessman who actually didn’t want to do the hair transplant; however, his best friend who I transplanted last year, looked so good, he got pressured into it by this friend. Now that the surgery is over, he told me this story and also told me that the procedure was a delightful day away from his pressures at work and home. He was happy that he did it.

In my experience, with thousands of hair transplants under my belt, I found that 100% of the men who underwent the transplant, found that they felt better about themselves when they look into the mirror, regardless of marital status or independent wealth.

This is an amazing result in just 4 short months. I believe that teh microneedling really helped accelerate the benefits shown here 

Does microneedling at <0,5 mm depth really increase minoxidil absorption?

The epidermis of the scalp is 0.5mm thick so if you microneedle at that depth or less, the epidermis has no blood supply so speak of and mainly contains keratin. There will be no benefit and no absorption at 0.5mm depth or less of any medication other than what normally works its way through the scalp. The purpose of microneedling is to get to the stem well that resides about 1-1.5mm below the scalp surface and produce wounds that force healing and hair regrowth.  Microneedling depths of 1=1.5mm is ideal. 

Great response for a 31 year old male. Actually, the crown is often more responsive than the frontal hairline for men above 30