As a skincare obsessive and frequent flier to Seoul, I’ve tried dozens of aesthetic treatments in the K-beauty capital over the past few years. As a beauty writer, I’m also highly cautious of far-fetched claims and too-good-to-be-true promises. So when I first heard about XERF—a monopolar radiofrequency treatment that promises to lift and tighten your skin both instantly and over time, with little to no pain—I had to investigate further.
What is XERF?
XERF is a monopolar radiofrequency treatment for skin tightening. “It boosts collagen production and improves skin laxity by using two different frequencies,” says board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, of SoHo Dermatology in New York City. Similar to Thermage, another popular RF lifting treatment, XERF uses 6.78 MHz: a frequency that targets the dermis, or the skin’s middle layer, to encourage tightening and smoothing. But it also uses 2 MHz, which heats near the SMAS plane, aka the layer that’s nipped and tucked during a facelift, so the treatment goes deep to lift the skin’s structure.
According to Ethan Wonuk Hwang, MD, a cosmetic physician and the director of Cheongdam Lebelle Clinic in Seoul, XERF’s not only more efficient but also less painful than alternative treatments given its real-time feedback and built-in cooling system. “It can deliver high energy safely while keeping pain minimal and downtime negligible,” he says. “This allows physicians to use stronger energy levels without compromising patient comfort.”
Michele Ross
Another thing that makes XERF stand out from the competition is that it works immediately. Dr. Kim even did his own experiment recently, getting treated on just one side of his face to gauge results. Once I saw the photo he posted shortly thereafter on Instagram Stories, I was floored: One side of his face looked notably more lifted and sharp, and his nasolabial fold softened as well. In that moment, I was influenced; his selfie solidified that I, too, needed XERF to fix my own smile lines and early signs of jowling.
While an instant lift is possible, Dr. Hwang says you’ll also build more collagen over the next few months for even more pronounced tightening. Results last for about a year, unless you opt for a booster session 3 to 6 months later, which will extend the timeline of your results.
Both doctors note that XERF is generally considered safe for all skin types and tones, making it a viable option for people with mild-to-moderate laxity who want subtle tightening sans downtime. XERF’s energy delivery is also good for circulation, says Dr. Hwang, so it even offers a subtle lit-from-within glow.
“This is a completely novel technology and one of the hottest treatments in Korea right now,” says Dr. Kim. And given its recent FDA clearance for skin tightening in the United States—not to mention the ever-growing fanfare around Korean aesthetics—its star is bound to rise on this side of the Pacific.
My XERF Experience
Michele Ross
I visited Dr. Hwang in Seoul for my XERF treatment. (I previously saw him for Rejuran injections, aka the OG salmon sperm facial, and since he made this notoriously painful treatment beyond tolerable, I basically trust him with my life.) When I asked him if I was a good candidate, I of course wanted him to balk and say no, that my skin was way too tight and youthful—but we both had eyes and determined that gravity had started to take its toll. And so, a structural lift was in order.
I got 600 “shots” total, with the majority focusing on each side of my mid and lower face and the double chin area with the deep setting. The remaining ones followed on a lighter setting for superficial improvements in fine lines and promoting circulation in my dermis.
Straight away, I could tell why XERF doesn’t require numbing cream (unlike my regular treatments of injectable skin boosters, microneedling, and lasers). As Dr. Hwang passed the device over my lower face, it felt almost like a hot stone massage with a subsequent cooling sensation. I have a high pain tolerance and would rate the discomfort at a 1 or 2 at most points. However, it got spicier around my cheekbones, clocking in around 4. Nonetheless, it was definitely doable.
Inspired by Dr. Kim’s experiment, I asked Dr. Hwang to treat only one side of my face at first so I could assess the results in real-time. Twenty minutes later, I sat up, looked in the mirror, and audibly gasped. The treated side was visibly slimmer and snatched, and my baby jowl was basically MIA. This only pronounced the angularity and droopiness of my pre-XERF side, which I couldn’t wait for Dr. Hwang to correct.
The whole procedure took an hour’s time, and I only had the slightest bit of redness right after.
The Verdict
While I’ll admit that I don’t notice facelift-level changes when I look in the mirror, assessing my before-and-after photos makes me realize that XERF offers a subtle yet surely perceptible lifting effect. My face is sharper and more heart-shaped, my smile lines don’t appear as deep, and it doesn’t look like my jawline is succumbing to gravity anymore.
Before XERF
Michele Ross
After XERF
Michele Ross
Best of all, I’m only a few weeks post-treatment, so more improvements are on the horizon as I build more collagen. Thanks to XERF, a few months’ time will only make the results more pronounced. And for that, I’m looking forward to getting older… at least until I’m due for my next appointment in a year’s time.
