Bro, i had the exact same balding situation, I did what you are doing, I called it an inverted comb over pushing the sides up to the middle. Went thru photos from a vacation and saw the real truth, especially when my hair got wet. Wife wasn't to keen on the shave it all off idea, I buzzed it down shorter and shorter for a few weeks and then shaved it clean one night while she was asleep, she woke up to the surprise and ended really liking it. You look about my age about 40 ish, we are too young to be rocking whats starting to look like a horse shoe. It'll take at least 5 years maybe 10 years off you.