If you follow Korean skincare, you may already know the name. XERF is the radiofrequency skin-tightening treatment that has become a fixture in Korean clinics since its 2024 launch, and it is now arriving in the UK.
DrMedispa will be among the first clinics in London and Essex to offer it, and you can register your interest before booking opens.
South Korea sets the pace in skincare. Treatments tend to be tested, refined and absorbed into everyday routines there long before they reach Europe, and XERF has followed exactly that path. It was developed by the Korean device maker Lutronic, now part of Cynosure Lutronic, and built a strong following in Korean clinics before expanding to Japan, Hong Kong and North America.
For a London audience, that is more than a trend. It means that by the time XERF reaches us, it arrives with real clinical mileage behind it and published research to match, rather than as an untested novelty.
XERF is a non-surgical skin-tightening treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to prompt the skin to produce new collagen. As we age, collagen production slows and the skin’s support structure weakens. The result stares back at you in the mirror: a softer jawline, early jowls, loosening along the neck, and skin that no longer sits quite where it used to.
Radiofrequency treatments themselves are not new. Clinics have used RF for skin tightening for years, because controlled heat in the right layer of the skin reliably prompts a collagen response. What sets XERF apart is how precisely it places that heat, with 30 customisable settings resulting in a tailored treatment experience.
Our Chief Medical Officer and founder, Dr Munir Somji, is currently a trainer and developing treatment protocols for XERF. That means when you have a XERF treatment in London at DrMedispa, our skin specialists are delivering the best
Most RF devices work at a single frequency, which limits how precisely they can place heat in the skin. XERF uses monopolar radiofrequency at two frequencies, 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz, and treats across three depths in the same session: the shallow layer for areas like the forehead, the middle layer for the mid-face and neck, and the deep layer for looser tissue along the jaw and under the chin. It can also be used on the body, for loose skin after weight loss.
The variability matters because skin does not loosen uniformly. The forehead ages differently from the jowls, and a device that treats everything at one depth has to compromise somewhere. Treating each area at the level it needs is the point of XERF, and the clearest difference from the RF devices that came before it.
The manufacturer’s published studies report that XERF’s energy reaches the SMAS, the layer of tissue beneath the skin that surgical face-lifts work on, and histological analysis in those studies showed collagen remodelling at multiple depths after treatment. This means that heat energy gets to where laxity develops, and your skin responds by rebuilding its support structure over the weeks that follow.
Of course, results vary from patient to patient and we all respond differently. That is why treatment starts with a consultation rather than a promise. One of our skin specialists will assess your skin, talk through what XERF can realistically achieve for you, and build a bespoke plan around it.
Many skin-tightening treatments ask you to trade comfort for results: numbing cream before, redness or recovery after. XERF was designed to avoid that, giving a modern treatment experience.
A built-in cooling system and pulsed energy delivery keep the skin’s surface comfortable while the heat works underneath, so there is no numbing step and no needles. Most people describe the sensation as warmth, and you can return to your day straight after a session.
Skipping the numbing stage also keeps appointments shorter. A session typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the areas treated.
XERF suits people noticing early to moderate skin laxity who want a non-surgical option: softening along the jawline, loosening at the neck, or a general loss of firmness in the face, décolletage or body. The device reads the skin in real time and adjusts across three depth settings and ten intensity levels, so the settings are matched to your skin on the day rather than run off a preset.
Results typically last 12 to 18 months, with most people maintaining them through a session roughly every 6-12 months. Your practitioner will confirm suitability and set a schedule at consultation.
Wondering how XERF stacks up against treatments like Morpheus8, Ultherapy or Thermage? We’ve compared them all.
DrMedispa is bringing XERF to its clinics as one of the first providers in London and Essex. Every XERF treatment will begin the way all our treatments do: with a consultation, so your plan reflects your skin and your goals rather than a standard protocol.
Bookings open very soon. If you would like to be among the first treated, you can pre-register now and we will contact you before the wider announcement.
Is XERF available in the UK yet?
It is arriving now. DrMedispa will be among the first UK clinics to offer it, and pre-registration for early booking is open.
How long does a XERF treatment take?
Usually 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the areas treated.
Does XERF hurt?
Discomfort is minimal. The cooling system keeps the surface of the skin comfortable while the energy works underneath, and most people describe the feeling as warmth.
Is there any downtime?
No. There are no needles and no numbing cream, so you can go straight back to your day.
How long do XERF results last?
Typically 12 to 18 months, with maintenance sessions around every 6-12 months.
Which areas can XERF treat?
The face, neck, jawline and décolletage, as well as areas of the body. Suitability is confirmed at consultation.
