The hard truth about skin care is that it requires patience and diligence to see results \u2014 especially if you\u2019re like me and can barely contain yourself when waiting for water to boil. Getting an intense laser? Gotta wait for that post-treatment shedding before smoother, brighter skin reveals itself. Botox<\/a>? The neuromodulator takes several days to a week to freeze wrinkle-causing muscle contractions. <\/p>\n XERF, thankfully, caters to those who love instant gratification.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t heard of the buzzy treatment yet, know that XERF is the latest in-office procedure to land stateside from \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 Korea. Already a favorite among celebrities like Kim Kardashian<\/a>, it\u2019s quickly gaining traction for its skin-tightening, anti-aging effects, all without going under the knife.<\/p>\n As a self-professed beauty treatment guinea pig (it is my job, after all), I had to try it. Here\u2019s everything to know \u2014 and whether it\u2019s actually worth the hype.<\/p>\n Cynosure Lutronic\u2019s XERF<\/a> is a radiofrequency-based lifting treatment, meaning it uses heat to penetrate deep beneath the skin\u2019s surface to stimulate collagen production. It was just FDA-approved in the U.S.<\/a> in August 2025, and it\u2019s been around in Korea since it launched in 2024. <\/p>\n Dr. David Kim, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Soho Derm<\/a> in New York City, likens it to Thermage<\/a>. \u201cThermage is also a radiofrequency-based treatment, but it only uses one frequency, while XERF uses two,\u201d he explains (using 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz frequencies). \u201cThermage helps with superficial tightening and it\u2019ll stimulate collagen production, but you don\u2019t get the deep lift you get with this one.\u201d <\/p>\n In other words, it\u2019s a non-invasive way to tighten and lift the skin.<\/p>\n According to Dr. William Harris<\/a>, M.D., a double-board-certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, XERF is among the most advanced radiofrequency treatments currently available. It\u2019s the first to deliver dual frequencies for both superficial and deep tightening \u2014 all while being light enough to not require numbing. \u201cHistorically, other radiofrequency treatments [like Thermage] have been quite sensitive for patients,\u201d says Harris, whose patients rate XERF at a zero to three out of 10 on the pain scale.<\/p>\n Perhaps the biggest draw: There\u2019s virtually no downtime. Expect a bit of redness for about an hour post-treatment, but that\u2019s about it. Plus, the instant gratification of it all \u2014 results are visible almost immediately, with your skin looking subtly more lifted and sculpted right after your appointment. You\u2019ll also get the added perk of seeing full results three to six months later due to collagen remodeling and production. <\/p>\n My treated cheekbone was undeniably higher, like that side of my face had somehow dodged gravity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously not a facelift<\/a>, but it\u2019s a pretty easy, relatively pain-free treatment that you can do in the office that takes 45 minutes,\u201d says Kim. \u201cIt\u2019s also ideal for those who don\u2019t want to do any injectables and just want to stimulate collagen with minimal downtime.\u201d <\/p>\n Also notable? You can technically get away with just one treatment. \u201cIn Korea, it\u2019s recommended to do two treatments one month apart, but I think you can spread it out to three months so you can experience the benefits for longer,\u201d says Kim, adding that he suggests first getting the treatment twice a year and then once a year after that for maintenance. According to Harris, results last between 12 and 18 months.<\/p>\n Another major plus: Because radiofrequency energy doesn\u2019t target pigment, XERF is generally considered safe for all skin tones when performed by a trained provider. That said, it\u2019s not for everyone \u2014 those who are pregnant or have certain implanted medical devices (like pacemakers) should avoid it. For others, expectations matter. \u201cPatients who have tried several energy-based devices with less than optimal results or who have goals that exceed the capability of the device should consider other alternatives such as surgery,\u201d adds Harris.<\/p>\n On average, XERF will cost anywhere between $1,250 and $3,000 per session to treat the face and neck. The pricing will vary depending on your location and the provider you go to. Note that you can choose a targeted treatment that focuses on, say, your jawline, for significantly less \u2014\u00a0around $500 to $800 per session. <\/p>\n Given that I\u2019m only used to seeing instant results from facials, I went into my XERF appointment at Kim\u2019s feeling both excited and a little skeptical. I was also nervous, since no numbing was involved. \u201cThere will be a little bit of pain,\u201d he told me as I got comfortable in the chair. \u201cSometimes, if you want to do good treatments, you have to be prepared.\u201d <\/p>\n After applying a conductor gel, Kim began slowly gliding the device across my skin, starting on my right jawline and cheek area. At first, it felt kind of like a stronger hot stone massage \u2014 nothing too bad. But it definitely got more intense in certain areas, mainly where there\u2019s more bone or sensitivity. It felt like a deep, burning heat that nearly made my eyes water \u2014 but stopped just short of being unbearable. FWIW, I have a pretty low pain tolerance (despite having given birth).<\/p>\n Halfway through the treatment, Kim had me hold up a mirror so I could compare my XERF-ed half to the other half of my face, and that\u2019s when it really wowed me. \u201cYou can see the line from the chin to the jawline is smoother. And then, when you look at the cheekbones, the apex is like here, and [on this side], it\u2019s down here. So it\u2019s a little bit perkier. The same thing with the eyebrows, too.\u201d He was right: My treated cheekbone was undeniably higher, like that side of my face had somehow dodged gravity.<\/p>\n Once the treatment was finished, my face wasn\u2019t even red \u2014 it just looked like I had come in from the cold with a slight flush. My skin felt a little hot, but cooled within five minutes. I could\u2019ve easily gone back to the office without anyone guessing I had just experienced an in-office cosmetic procedure. <\/p>\n At this point, it\u2019s been about three months since I got the treatment. I also got Xeomin (a neuromodulator) around the same time, so I can\u2019t say whether my smoother, firmer complexion is solely due to XERF.<\/p>\n Because it stimulates collagen at such a deep level, you\u2019ll experience a second wave of that sculpted effect once it regenerates at the three-month mark. I *think* this happened to me. At the very least, I\u2019ve been low-key into my skin\u2019s glow lately \u2014\u00a0and my cheekbones and jawline do look pretty snatched. <\/p>\n Really, XERF stands out in the anti-aging realm for a couple of reasons \u2014\u00a0one being its ability to hit such deep layers beneath the skin without as much pain or downtime as other radiofrequency treatments. It\u2019s also noteworthy for delivering instant results. And it\u2019s important to point out that it\u2019s knife and needle-free \u2014 perhaps a rarity in today\u2019s facelift era<\/a>.<\/p>\n As Harris points out, this is a great option for those who don\u2019t want or aren\u2019t ready for more invasive procedures. \u201cPatients who are not ready for surgery, want to avoid it, or are looking to maintain a previous face and neck lift are the best candidates for this device.\u201d<\/p>\n Think of it as strengthening the scaffolding of your face \u2014 keeping everything firm and lifted, rather than layering on volume with injectables. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to just rely on fillers and things like that to restore the volume, because that\u2019s when you can start to look puffy,\u201d says Kim. \u201cThis is something that can really make a big difference \u2014 you want your skin cells to stay young and stimulated.\u201d <\/p>\n I will say: XERF has been the most impressive tightening procedure I\u2019ve ever tried. Considering the results last at least a year, it\u2019s something I\u2019d genuinely return to in my ongoing battle against gravity.<\/p>\nWhat Exactly Is XERF?<\/h2>\n
The Benefits<\/h2>\n
The Cost<\/h2>\n
My Experience<\/h2>\n
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<\/div>\nThe Verdict<\/h2>\n
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