Yes, a beard transplant really is possible these days. It’s very similar to the kind of hair transplant procedures that can restore a youthful hairline to a bald or balding man. But is a hair transplant really necessary? Is there a better way to get the beard you want without having to resort to a complex and expensive medical procedure?

Here’s a little more about hair transplants on the face, followed by some ways to maximize the growth you already have.

About Beard Transplants

Beards have become so popular in some places and in some subcultures that you can feel like a bit of an outcast if you don’t have one. (So much for the value of individuality.) We all want what we don’t have, of course, and some guys with smooth faces because of genetics want beards. Other guys have decent beards with patches where no hair grows that they want to close up. Still others have had injuries or other trauma that has messed up their beard growth and want it fixed.

Some people want to fill in acnes scars. Others just want better sideburns or a little soul patch to help their faces match their personalities.

Truthfully, however, all some guys need is a little beard care advice about how to take better care of what hair they have on their faces. Sometimes, a barber or stylist can show you how to use what you have to maximum advantage.

As far as anyone can tell, the recent desire for beard transplants is most pronounced in New York City, where beards are really in. The procedure itself is relatively simple: hair is taken from the neck or head where it grows well and transplanted into the beard area.

The problem is that it can take a few weeks to heal up, and you can’t conceal it as well as you can a hair transplant on top of your head. Plus, there is a risk of scarring. There’s another downside: you may not get full benefit of the transplant for nearly a year — and what will you look like in the meantime?

And what if beards go out in a few years and you want to shave? Will the five o’clock shadow left behind look natural? Or will you be stuck with a beard all your life — even when it goes grey or when you get a job where being clean-shaven is the norm?

It’s a lot to consider. But beard transplants aren’t just possible. They’re available now in most areas — and they work. A lot of men who choose to have a beard transplant go away on vacation to have a doctor in another city perform the procedure, hoping to come back bearded and no one at home will be the wiser.

Alternatives To Beard Transplants

If you can’t afford this step or don’t want the risk, pain, hassles and recovery time, there are ways to can maximize the beard growth you already have — and they’re easier than you think. Here some advice:

Understand that not all hair grows at once. Hair grows in cycles, so a beard that looks thin now will actually fill in over the course of the coming weeks. It can take a year for every hair on your face to sprout since hair grows in three-month cycles. In fact, some guys shave their beards off every few months or once a year because it gets too dense.

Understand that things change all your life. Some guys think that once they’ve been through puberty and get some facial hair, that’s all they’re ever going to get. But most guys gain a little more density every year. So waiting a couple of years can make a difference. Guys in their 30s and 40s often get lots more facial hair than they had when they were 18 or even 25.

Understand that longer is often better. Many guys turn to beard transplants only really wanting better stubble since scruff is also in these days. But choosing the best stubble trimmer you can find with adjustable setting may be all you really need to do. Often, a slightly longer setting can make a beard look darker and can allow some small gaps to fill in. That may be all you need.

Understand the value of dye. If your facial hair is there but very light in color, a beard dye that’s one or two shades darker can sometimes help add the illusion of volume. This doesn’t always work — and you certainly don’t want to go unnaturally dark — but take a look around. There are more dyed beards than you may realize.

Understand that everyone’s different. Maybe it’s simply time to value your individuality. Since everyone seems to have a beard today, why not grow out that mustache, soul patch or those killer sideburns that you can grow? Or why not buck the trend and be clean-shaven? Of course, you can also just let whatever you have grow and be happy with it. You weren’t planning to enter any beauty contests, were you?

While a beard transplant is available if you have the money and the desire to go through with it, there are many alternatives that deserve consideration before you take the plunge.