See how XERF works
Cynosure Lutronic's two-minute explainer: how the two frequencies travel through the shallow, middle and deep layers, and how Wave Fit™ pulse and ICD cooling keep the treatment comfortable.
xerf structural skin tightening in los angeles
XERF is a non-invasive structural skin tightening treatment from Cynosure Lutronic, the first monopolar radiofrequency system to deliver two frequencies at once. Dermaster brings it to Koreatown, Los Angeles: a comfortable, needle-free session of about 45 minutes that firms the jawline, neck and face with no numbing and no downtime.
What is XERF?
XERF is a radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening treatment that heats the deeper structure of the skin to firm and lift it without surgery, needles or numbing cream. Engineered in Korea by Lutronic and FDA-cleared in the United States in 2025, it is the treatment behind the "structural skin tightening" results now filling social feeds.
What makes XERF different is multifrequency monopolar RF: each pulse combines 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz energy, so heat reaches the shallow, middle and deep layers of the skin in one pass, down to the SMAS, the foundational layer that lifts sagging skin and softens jowls. Warming these layers tightens existing collagen on the spot and triggers new collagen to build over the following weeks.
Korean-engineered, FDA-cleared in the US in 2025, and now at Dermaster in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
How XERF Works
A small grounding pad goes on your back, then a cooled handpiece glides over the treatment area pulse by pulse. Each pulse carries two RF frequencies at once, so the energy lands exactly where your provider sets it: shallow for the dermis, middle for the layer beneath, deep for the tissue that holds the lower face.
Because the skin's surface is cooled with every pulse, the treatment feels warm rather than hot. There is nothing to numb, nothing to inject and nothing to recover from.
1. Dual-frequency monopolar RF (6.78 MHz + 2 MHz) in a single shot
2. Wave Fit™ pulse: energy spread across multiple pulses for a steady rise in tissue temperature
3. Integrated Cryogen Delivery (ICD): real-time cooling that protects the surface of the skin
4. Accurate Impedance Feedback: the skin is measured in real time and the energy adapts to it
5. Three depth settings and ten intensity levels, tailored to your skin and your goals
Never-Numb™: comfort built into every pulse
Wave Fit™ pulse and Integrated Cryogen Delivery work together to raise the temperature deep in the skin while keeping its surface cool, so a XERF session needs no numbing cream and no prep time. Most guests describe the feeling as a deep, spreading warmth.
Hear from a patient
"As a busy mom, XERF fits into my schedule easily. It's comfortable, there's no downtime, and I could feel tightening right away." Brooke, an actual XERF patient, in Cynosure Lutronic's film. Patient was compensated; individual results vary.
Who Should Consider XERF?
Ideal Candidates for XERF
XERF suits anyone who wants firmer, more lifted skin without surgery, needles or time off, and it is safe for all skin types. If you are not sure whether XERF, Density or Ultherapy is the right lift for you, our team will look at your skin and build a plan around it.
Jawline & Jowls
Softening definition along the jaw, or early jowls you notice in photos.
Neck & Brow
Loose skin under the chin or on the neck, and a brow that sits lower than it used to.
Fine Lines
Fine lines and crepey texture on the cheeks, around the mouth and along the neck.
Body Laxity
Loose skin on the arms, abdomen, knees or thighs, including after weight loss.
Key benefits of XERF
Three Depths, One Treatment
Every XERF treatment is set to one of three depths and ten intensity levels, so the same handpiece can firm the delicate skin of the neck, lift the mid-face or reach the structure that holds the lower face. Your provider reads your skin in real time and chooses the setting for each area.
Shallow
Restores firmness in the dermis: collagen and elastin thicken, strengthen and shorten for smoother skin.
Middle
Strengthens collagen beneath the dermis to lift and tighten sagging skin on the face and neck.
Deep
Reaches the tissue that holds the lower face to improve the look of loose skin, jowls and the area under the chin.
XERF Before and After
Clinical photographs supplied by Cynosure Lutronic. Individual results vary.
BeforeAfterAfter 2 XERF treatments
Courtesy of Dianne Quibell, MD
BeforeAfterAfter 2 XERF treatments
Courtesy of Dianne Quibell, MD
BeforeAfter4 weeks after XERF
Courtesy of Jordan Wang, MD, MBE, MBA
Recognized by the Industry
ELLE Tools and Treatments Awards 2026
Harper’s Bazaar Pro Treatment Editor’s Choice 2025
NewBeauty Award 2026
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
XERF is priced by treatment area and by the number of sessions in your plan, and we quote it at your free consultation. A full face is the most common session; face and neck together, or a body area, are priced as their own treatments. Dermaster's monthly specials often include XERF, so check the current promotion before you book.
No. XERF is designed to be a Never-Numb™ treatment: the handpiece cools the surface of the skin with every pulse while the energy warms the layers below, so most people describe a deep, comfortable warmth. There are no needles and no numbing cream.
About 45 minutes for a full face, and a little longer when the neck or a body area is added. Because there is no numbing, there is no waiting time before the treatment starts.
Most people feel their skin tighten during the session and notice firmer contours right away. The bigger change comes over the following weeks and months as new collagen builds; clinical photos from Cynosure Lutronic show visible improvement at four weeks and after two treatments. Results are long-lasting, and many people maintain them with a session every year or so.
There is no downtime. You can go straight back to work, make-up and your usual routine. Skin may look slightly pink or feel warm for a short time after the session. As with any RF treatment, your provider will review your history first; XERF is not performed over metal implants or for people with implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers.
Many people see a noticeable change from a single session. Your provider may recommend a second session, or a yearly maintenance session, depending on how much laxity you start with and the result you want. We plan this with you at your consultation.
Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound, and Thermage uses single-frequency monopolar RF; both usually call for numbing and can be uncomfortable. Density, which Dermaster also offers, is a single-frequency 6.78 MHz monopolar RF lift with strong cooling. XERF adds a second 2 MHz frequency in every pulse, so it reaches the shallow, middle and deep layers at once, with no numbing and no downtime. Our team will help you choose between Density, Ultherapy and XERF at your consultation.
Yes. XERF is a radiofrequency treatment, not a laser, so it works on every skin tone and can be done year-round. Your provider sets the depth and intensity for your skin using the device's real-time impedance feedback.
Dermaster Medical Aesthetic Clinic offers XERF at 3000 W Olympic Blvd #305 in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Tuesday to Friday 10am–7pm and Saturday 9am–3pm. Book online with the Book now button, or call (213) 814-8410 for a free consultation.