If you have been researching non-surgical skin tightening, you will have met the same names again and again: Morpheus8, Ultherapy, Thermage, Ultraformer, FaceTite.
Now there’s a new contender shaking up the aesthetics industry.
XERF, a Korean radiofrequency device arriving in the UK, is about to join the list, and DrMedispa will be among the first clinics in London and Essex to offer it. The Kardashians love it, patients are flying to Seoul to try it, and now we want our patients to experience it too.
So how does XERF compare to other treatments? All five are established and well-evidenced treatments, and an aesthetic clinic that tells you one device is absolutely for everyone is doing their patients a disservice. They work in different ways, ask different things of you, and suit different skin.
Most skin tightening treatments work on the same clinical principle.
Controlled energy is delivered into your skin, which registers it as a signal to repair, and over the following weeks produces new collagen. Firmness builds gradually rather than overnight, and results in each case typically last a year or more before maintenance is needed.
The differences lie in the type of energy delivered, how deep the treatment can reach, and how long it takes to recover.
Morpheus8 delivers radiofrequency through fine needles that puncture the skin, combining two mechanisms at once: the physical micro-injury of needling and the heat of RF. That combination is its strength. Because it resurfaces as it tightens, Morpheus8 is particularly good where texture is part of the problem: acne scarring, rough or uneven skin, enlarged pores.
The trade-off is the experience. Needling requires numbing cream beforehand, and recovery typically means a few days of redness, swelling and pinpoint marks, sometimes up to a week for intensive sessions. Most people need two to four treatments, spaced several weeks apart. If your main concern is texture as much as laxity, that trade can be well worth making.
Morpheus8 is available at DrMedispa and has been one of our most popular treatments for years. At you consultation, we’ll discuss if XERF or Morpheus8 is more appropriate for your concern.
Ultherapy is the odd one out here because it is not radiofrequency at all. It uses micro-focused ultrasound to heat tissue at depth, and it pairs this with real-time imaging, so the practitioner can see the layer being treated as they work. It has a long clinical track record and regulatory approval for lifting on the face, neck and décolletage.
Ultherapy’s caveat, and the reason we don’t offer it at DrMedispa, is the pain level. The sensation is often described as deep, hot prickling, and while clinics manage this with numbing and pain relief, it is generally considered the least comfortable of the five. Many patients decide the track record justifies it. Downtime, on the other hand, is minimal: some redness or tenderness for a few hours.
Thermage is the most direct comparator to XERF, because both use monopolar radiofrequency without needles. Thermage has been refined over two decades, and its standout feature is that most patients need only a single session, with results that commonly last one to two years. This is the same with new market entry, XERF.
What separates Thermage vs XERF is the energy delivery. Thermage works at a single frequency, and numbing cream is still typically applied before treatment. XERF uses two frequencies across three depths, resulting in 30 customisable settings. This control lets the practitioner treat the forehead, mid-face and jawline at the level each needs. XERF also has a cooling system which removes the need for numbing.
XERF’s case rests on two things. The first is depth control: dual-frequency energy delivered to the shallow, middle or deep layer as each area requires, with the device reading the skin in real time. The manufacturer’s published studies report energy reaching the SMAS, the structural layer that surgical face-lifts work on, with collagen remodelling observed at multiple depths.
The second is the treatment experience. There are no needles and no numbing cream; sessions take 45 to 60 minutes and you go back to your day. For people who want meaningful tightening but will not accept needles or a week of redness, XERF is a great option.
It depends on what you are solving for. Texture and scarring as much as laxity? Morpheus8 has a strong claim. The longest track record for lifting, if you can tolerate a more intense session, belongs to Ultherapy. Thermage is built around a single appointment every year or two, which suits some people perfectly. XERF’s territory is multi-depth tightening without needles, numbing or recovery time.
Whichever way you lean, the deciding factor should be your skin, assessed in person. A consultation will tell you more than any comparison article, including this one. You can book a skin consultation at DrMedispa in Loughton, Marylebone or Knightsbridge to get a specialist opinion.
Is XERF better than Morpheus8? Neither is better outright. Morpheus8 combines needling with RF and is strong on texture and scarring, with a few days of recovery. XERF is needle-free with no downtime and focuses on tightening at multiple depths. The right choice depends on your skin and priorities.
Is XERF the same as Thermage? They are related. Both use monopolar radiofrequency without needles. Thermage works at a single frequency and usually involves numbing cream; XERF uses two frequencies across three depths and has no numbing step.
Does XERF hurt less than Ultherapy? Ultherapy is generally considered the more intense experience of the two. XERF’s cooling system keeps the skin’s surface comfortable, and most people describe the sensation as warmth.
Is XERF or Ultraformer better for lifting? Both lift without surgery or downtime; the difference is the energy. Ultraformer uses focused ultrasound to specific points at depth, while XERF spreads radiofrequency across three depths with surface cooling, so it needs no numbing cream. We offer both and match the choice to your skin.
How is XERF different from FaceTite? FaceTite is minimally invasive: a radiofrequency probe works under the skin, under local anaesthetic, for a stronger and longer-lasting result, but with around a week of recovery. XERF is non-invasive with no downtime, suited to earlier laxity. They suit different stages rather than competing directly.
Can I combine these treatments? Sometimes, depending on your skin and timing. This is a question for your consultation, where one of our skin specialists can plan safely around anything you have had before.
Which skin tightening treatment lasts longest? FaceTite, which is soft surgery, lasts 3-5 years. Results from each non-surgical treatment typically last around a year or more, with Thermage often quoted at one to two years and XERF at 12 to 18 months. Each patient responds differently to treatments.
The right choice for skin laxity depends on your skin, not on which treatment you read about first. That’s why every plan at DrMedispa starts with a consultation, and if something other than XERF would suit you better, we’ll say so.
XERF is arriving now, with Dr Medispa among the first clinics in the UK to offer it. Dr Munir Somji, our CMO, is involved in training and protocols as a KOL delivering XERF in the UK. This means DrMedispa is a XERF centre of excellence, based in central London.
Pre-register your interest and we’ll contact you the moment booking opens, ahead of the wider announcement, so you can be early to book. Prefer to weigh up your options first? Book a consultation and we’ll talk you through them.
Register your interest in XERF below
