"Is XERF a radiofrequency lifting like Thermage? What's different about it?"
"If I get it once, elasticity comes up right away, right?"
These are questions people who got confused about the types while looking into lifting often ask.
Greetings from DA Clinic Myeongdong.I'm Director Kwon Si-jin ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been asking about XERF ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
I completely understand that feeling of confusion, since there are so many lifting device names.
But radiofrequency isn't all the same — the methods vary — so choosing without knowing easily misses the mark. Start by seeing what makes XERF different.
XERF Is a Radiofrequency (RF) Lifting
Let me first unpack the most confusing part.
XERF is a lifting treatment that uses radiofrequency (RF), not ultrasound (HIFU).
If Shurink or Ultherapy is a method of gathering ultrasound into a single point to create heat spots in the deep layers, XERF is a method of heating the dermis with radiofrequency heat to contract collagen.
In the big picture, it belongs to the same 'radiofrequency lifting' family as Thermage.
So if you come in thinking "XERF = ultrasound," there'll be a part that's out of step with the actual principle.
It's the Same Radiofrequency, but 'Dual Frequency' Is Its Feature
So what's different from Thermage?
XERF's feature is a method that uses two different frequencies of radiofrequency together.
The relatively lower frequency delivers energy down to the deep dermis and fiber structure, while the higher frequency acts on the upper dermis near the surface.
Since the concept is dividing the heat delivered to different depths, it's focused on handling multiple depths together, not just one layer.
That said, 'different' doesn't mean 'better'; which method suits varies depending on the skin condition and the purpose.
The Effect Comes in Two Stages: 'Immediate + Gradual'
Many people expect the lifting effect all at once.
A radiofrequency lifting like XERF usually appears in two stages.
First, the heat contracts collagen and a primary tightening appears, and then over the following months new collagen is created and elasticity is added — that's the flow.
So many people feel the change over time rather than on the same day, and the effect isn't fixed permanently.
Since aging progresses even after the treatment, it's more accurate to see it as a concept of managing it periodically while watching your condition. (Response and maintenance have individual differences)
How Are the Pain and Downtime?
Since a radiofrequency lifting heats the deep layers, a sense of heat can be felt.
XERF is a method of cooling the surface with cooling gas during the treatment while heating the inside, so it's a device made with attention to protecting the surface and controlling irritation.
Since it's a non-invasive method, the return to daily life after the treatment is relatively fast, but light redness or a sense of heat can show briefly.
The degree of pain felt and the recovery speed have individual differences, so it's good to understand it as a treatment that 'controls irritation' rather than 'completely painless.'
People in These Situations Should Check One More Time
XERF isn't a treatment casually recommended in every situation.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, if you use an electrical medical device like a pacemaker, or if there's a metal implant or active inflammation at the treatment area, it's safer to consult first.
Also, if the cause of sagging is mainly fat or the skin laxity is at a severe stage, radiofrequency tightening alone may not achieve as much change as expected.
So rather than "because lifting is in fashion," the order is to decide the method by looking at the degree and cause of your own elasticity decline.
Why several radiofrequency devices
Not all radiofrequency is the same radiofrequency.Depending on how the electrodes sit, what frequency is used and how the surface is cooled, the depth it reaches and how it feels change.
- XERFuses two frequencies together to reach deeper layers. It has cooling and tends to be less painful, and comes up for people with little facial fat
- Thermage FLXmonopolar, warming the whole dermis evenly. Noted for a function that reads the skin's resistance and matches the energy to it
- Volnewmereven from the dermis through to the subcutaneous layer, described as being on the fuller, more voluminous side of firmness
- InModethe firmness mode and the fat-side mode are separate, and it comes up when the jawline is being considered alongside
The reason we have all four at our Myeongdong clinic is simple: you can only say "you don't need this right now" if there are alternatives.
And where sagging runs deep, the radiofrequency family alone has its limits, so the ultrasound side is looked at alongside.However well you warm the dermis, it can't lift what has descended in a deeper layer.
How recovery runs
- Day 1 to 3the stretch where swelling is most pronounced. With injectables, bruising often comes alongside
- Around a weekswelling drops noticeably
- 2 to 4 weeksfrom around here it's close to the actual appearance
So there's no need to judge it in the mirror the next day. If anything it's most swollen right afterwards, so a conclusion drawn from that impression will be off.
During recovery, postpone anything that raises the body's heat for a few days, and drinking enough water helps. If you have an important date, leave room.
That said, if pain doesn't ease but worsens, if only one side swells with warmth, or if a firm lump persists, contact where you had the treatment.
Recovery and aftercare
With this family, it's the months that follow rather than the treatment itself that make the result, because that's the period when collagen builds.
- Sun protectionUV is spoken of as the single largest factor that erodes collagen. If it's being eroded while it builds, less of it remains
- Moisturisingduring recovery it's better to lean on hydration rather than active, irritating ingredients
- Saunas and hard exercisesafer to postpone for a week or two afterwards
And because the change is gradual, memory alone won't hold it. Photographing before you start and three months on, under the same lighting at the same angle, makes judging it far easier.
The difference between "it lasted a year" and "it only lasted six months" is sometimes not a difference of device but a difference in these few months.
- It uses two frequencies together
- The effect comes in two stages — immediate and gradual
- Not the device name but your own skin condition is the standard
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How are XERF, Thermage, and Shurink different?
A. The type of energy and the method differ.Shurink is a method of gathering ultrasound (HIFU) into a single point to create heat spots in the deep layers, while Thermage and XERF are methods of heating the dermis with radiofrequency (RF) to contract collagen.Among these, XERF's feature is using two different frequencies of radiofrequency together to divide and handle multiple depths. That said, rather than any one being superior, the suitable method differs depending on skin thickness, elasticity state, and purpose. So rather than choosing by the device name, it's right to decide the method by looking at your own skin condition.The response differs from individual to individual.
Q. How long does the effect last once I get it?
A. A radiofrequency lifting like XERF tends to show both a primary effect where the heat contracts collagen and a secondary effect where new collagen is created over the following months.So many people feel the elasticity change over time rather than on the same day.That said, since aging continues even after the treatment, the effect isn't fixed permanently, and usually many people manage it periodically while watching their condition. The maintenance period varies depending on skin condition, age, and lifestyle habits, so please keep in mind that there are individual differences.
Q. How do I care for it after the treatment?
A. Since XERF is a non-invasive method, the return to daily life is relatively fast, but light redness or a sense of heat can show for a few days after the treatment.During this period, refrain for a while from activities that raise heat significantly, like saunas, jjimjilbang, and intense exercise, and paying attention to moisturizing and UV protection helps recovery and collagen management.Also, since it takes time for new collagen to be created, it's better to look at the flow over a few months rather than judging the result by how it looks right after the treatment. There are individual differences in the change felt and the recovery speed.
Right away, then slowly
I've said a lot, but this one line is what stays.
XERF is a radiofrequency (RF) lifting that uses two frequencies together; the effect appears in two stages, immediate and gradual, and a choice suited to your own skin condition matters more than the device name.
I hope the worry you carried into this piece feels a little lighter.
If you got confused about the types of lifting, it's good to start from looking at the cause of your own elasticity decline rather than comparing names. Please also remember that there are individual differences in the result and maintenance.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thanks for reading all the way through.Director Kwon Si-jin, DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)