What Is XERF?
XERF is the world’s first multifrequency monopolar radiofrequency (RF) system, an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that delivers structural skin tightening and lifting without surgery or injectable agents. By combining two distinct radiofrequency frequencies, 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz, simultaneously, XERF achieves something no conventional single-frequency RF device can: precise, controlled thermal energy delivery across the superficial, mid, and deep layers of the skin in a single treatment session.
The 6.78 MHz frequency addresses the upper dermis, remodeling the collagen and elastin fibers responsible for surface texture and fine lines. The deeper 2 MHz frequency reaches the SMAS, the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, a foundational structural layer beneath the skin that governs the lift and definition of the jawline, cheeks, and neck. Clinical studies confirm that XERF generates measurable thickening and shortening of collagen bundles at multiple tissue depths, along with an observable upward pull of the fascia, a structural effect previously associated only with surgical intervention.
To ensure both efficacy and comfort, the system incorporates Wave Fit™ pulse technology alongside Advanced Integrated Cryogen Delivery (ICD) cooling, maintaining optimal surface temperature throughout the procedure. Accurate Impedance Feedback provides real-time analysis of each patient’s unique skin profile, enabling the treating physician to fine-tune energy delivery across three depth settings and ten intensity levels. The result is a treatment that is as precisely calibrated as it is comfortable.
Why Choose UnionDerm for XERF?
At UnionDerm, XERF is performed exclusively by our board-certified dermatologists, physicians with deep, specialized expertise in energy-based skin tightening. Our team’s proficiency with monopolar radiofrequency technology extends well beyond familiarity with a single device; our physicians have cultivated extensive experience across multiple RF and lifting platforms, allowing them to select the precise treatment parameters most suited to each patient’s anatomy, skin physiology, and aesthetic goals.
This level of expertise matters enormously with a technology as sophisticated as XERF. Achieving optimal results requires real-time clinical judgment, knowing how to adjust energy delivery based on tissue response, managing depth settings across anatomically complex areas, and recognizing subtle tissue signals that inform the safest and most effective path forward. This is precisely the kind of nuanced, medically-informed decision-making that only a highly trained physician can provide. At UnionDerm, no XERF treatment is ever delegated to a nurse, aesthetician, or other non-physician provider.
Our physicians’ commitment to advancing the science of skin tightening is equally distinguished. UnionDerm’s dermatologists have participated in clinical research examining the efficacy of monopolar radiofrequency for tightening the lower face, neck, posterior upper arms, and abdomen, contributing directly to the evidence base that validates treatments like XERF. This research-driven perspective ensures our patients benefit not only from the best available technology but from the most current, evidence-informed protocols available anywhere.
The outcome is a treatment experience defined by precision, expertise, and results that are genuinely transformative, yet refreshingly natural.
Who Is a Candidate for XERF?
XERF is well-suited to a broad range of patients, particularly those experiencing mild to moderate skin laxity who wish to address visible signs of aging without surgery or prolonged recovery. Ideal candidates present with concerns such as:
- Softening of the jawline or early jowling
- Loose or crepey skin along the neck
- Loss of definition in the cheeks or midface
- Fine lines and skin laxity around the eyes and brows
- Skin laxity on the arms, abdomen, or thighs
Because XERF is safe across all skin types and tones, it is an excellent option for patients who may not be candidates for other energy-based modalities. It is also appropriate for those who have already undergone surgical rejuvenation and wish to maintain or enhance their results over time. A personalized consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists will determine whether XERF, or a combination approach incorporating complementary treatments, is the most appropriate path to your goals.
What Can I Expect from XERF?
XERF is designed to be both highly effective and exceptionally comfortable. Most patients describe the sensation as a gentle, sustained warmth, a far more pleasant experience than older radiofrequency technologies. No topical numbing is required, and there is no injection, incision, or recovery period. Treatments are typically completed in 30 to 60 minutes, after which patients may resume their normal activities immediately.
Some degree of visible improvement is often perceptible within the first few days following treatment, as the thermal response initiates immediate changes in collagen architecture. Over the subsequent weeks and months, as the body produces new collagen and elastin in response to the treatment, results continue to refine and deepen. Most patients achieve their optimal outcome after a series of sessions, the precise number of which will be determined during your personalized consultation.
What Areas Can XERF Address?
XERF’s versatility makes it one of the most comprehensive non-invasive tightening treatments available. It is FDA-cleared for use on the face and body, with applications including:
- Jawline and jowls: lifting and defining the lower face
- Neck: smoothing laxity for a more youthful profile
- Cheeks and midface: restoring firmness and contour
- Brows and periorbital area: softening laxity and fine lines around the eyes
- Nasolabial folds and marionette lines: improving facial harmony
- Arms: addressing crepey or loose skin along the posterior upper arms
- Abdomen: tightening lax skin following weight changes or natural aging
- Thighs: improving skin quality and firmness
Schedule a Consultation
Exceptional skin begins with a conversation. At UnionDerm, every new patient begins with a dedicated one-on-one consultation with a board-certified dermatologist. Your physician will assess your skin, listen closely to your concerns and aspirations, and design a customized treatment plan tailored precisely to you.
XERF is currently available at our Union Square location in Manhattan. To schedule your consultation or an appointment, please contact us today.
