You owe it to yourself to see if you can get used to the shaved/buzzed look. I got a HT without fin and regret it constantly. I can't stress this enough - try cutting your hair shorter now and save yourself the nightmarish hassle of future procedures that in all likelihood will not give you the results that you hope they will.
This is spot on - take the leap now and see if you feel comfortable with the buzzed look, it will save you untold amounts of time, stress, money, etc...
I've been applying 2x/week and I'm getting pretty close to considering stopping xyon topical dut. No sexual sides, but still getting lingering ball pain that has not subsided and def messes with my peace of mind. My hair is certainly worse around the hairline since having started. Crown may be doing a little better, but that could very well be the oral minoxidil.
I can say after several months of using Xyon dutasteride 2-3x a week that I have gone through a terrible shed and my hair has not recovered. There may be some hope for the crown as I think I can feel some vellus hairs, but tbh that has thinned too and remains to be seen. I will power through for another few months, but it's been very difficult mentally. No sides from me.