AUVEL Clinic Journal
What Is XERF and How Is It Different?
XERF is a radiofrequency lifting treatment that alternates two frequencies, 6.78MHz and 2MHz, through a wide 6cm² tip, delivering energy to the dermis and the layers beneath it. Powerful surface cooling means it involves little pain and can be performed even without anesthesia. The effect is described as appearing within two weeks, with a repeat session recommended once every six months to one year.
- BeforeSurface cooling means the treatment can be performed even without anesthesia.
- During6.78MHz and 2MHz alternate through a 6cm² tip, into the dermis and the layers below.
- Within 2 weeksThe effect is described as appearing here: improved elasticity and firmer contours.
- 6 months – 1 yearThe interval at which a repeat session is recommended.
| Type | Radiofrequency lifting |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | 6.78MHz and 2MHz, alternating |
| Tip | 6cm², a wide treatment area per pass |
| Depth | Dermis and deeper layers |
| Anesthesia | Can be performed even without it |
| Pain | Little, owing to powerful surface cooling |
| Effect appears | Within 2 weeks |
| Repeat session | Once every 6 months to 1 year |
What XERF is
XERF is a radiofrequency lifting device. Where most radiofrequency treatments work at a single frequency, XERF alternates between two of them, 6.78MHz and 2MHz.
The energy is delivered through a 6cm² tip, which is wide as treatment tips go, and it reaches the dermis and the layers beneath it. Lifting treatments of this kind work by stimulating the skin rather than removing anything, so the visible part arrives afterwards rather than during.
It is one of the eighteen devices AUVEL Clinic publishes by name, and it sits in the same group as Thermage and Ultherapy Prime, used for lifting and tightening for the face and contours.
The cooling, and why it changes the appointment
The part patients notice is not the frequency. It is that XERF uses powerful surface cooling technology, which is why it involves little pain and can be performed even without anesthesia.
That single fact reshapes the visit. Without anesthesia there is no numbing wait at the start and nothing to wear off at the end, which is a practical difference on a day with anything else planned in it.
The wide tip matters for the same reason: more area covered per pass is less time spent in the chair. Neither of these is a claim about the result. Both describe what the appointment is like.
- Surface cooling, which is why it involves little pain
- Can be performed even without anesthesia
- 6cm² tip covering a wide area per pass
How it compares with Thermage and Ultherapy Prime
All three are lifting treatments and all three are described as long lasting, with a repeat session recommended once every six months to one year. The differences are in the energy and the timetable.
Thermage and XERF are both radiofrequency, and both are described as showing their effect within two weeks. Ultherapy Prime uses focused ultrasound delivered deeper, and is described as within four weeks.
Those numbers are not a ranking. Two weeks is not better than four, and the frequencies are not a score. They describe different treatments, and which one applies to you is decided after a board-certified dermatologist has examined your skin.
- XERF: radiofrequency, 6.78MHz and 2MHz alternating · effect within 2 weeks
- Thermage: radiofrequency into the dermis · effect within 2 weeks
- Ultherapy Prime: focused ultrasound, deeper · effect within 4 weeks
If you are flying in for it
Two weeks is longer than most trips to Korea, so plan on the change arriving after you are home rather than before you leave. Booking a lifting appointment for the week of an event is planning against the treatment rather than with it.
The absence of a numbing wait does make XERF easier to fit into a day that has other things in it, and weekday appointments here run until 8:00 PM. As with any treatment, saunas, jjimjilbang, hot baths and vigorous exercise are postponed for a few days afterwards.
Your own precautions are explained in detail at the clinic before you leave, by the doctor who treated you.
Where to ask
AUVEL Clinic is on the 12th floor at 138 Dosan-daero in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, one minute from Sinsa Station Exit 1. Every treatment is performed one-to-one directly by a board-certified dermatologist.
International credit cards are accepted. English questions are handled over WhatsApp before and after your visit.
- Address: 12F, 138 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1 minute from Sinsa Station Exit 1)
- Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- English questions and booking: WhatsApp +82 10-5924-4401 · Clinic line +82 2-548-5007
Inside AUVEL Clinic, Gangnam
No numbing wait at the start, nothing wearing off at the end. 
Which lifting treatment applies to you is decided here, after an examination. 
The effect is described as appearing within two weeks, usually after you are home.
Swipe or scroll sideways to see more. Photographed at AUVEL Clinic, 138 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Frequently asked questions
What is XERF?
A radiofrequency lifting treatment that alternates two frequencies, 6.78MHz and 2MHz, delivering energy through a 6cm² tip into the dermis and the layers beneath it.
Does XERF need anesthesia?
It can be performed even without it. Powerful surface cooling technology is the reason the treatment involves little pain.
How is XERF different from Thermage?
Both are radiofrequency lifting treatments described as showing their effect within two weeks. XERF alternates 6.78MHz and 2MHz through a wide 6cm² tip. Which one suits you is decided after an examination. Spec sheets won't settle it.
When will I see the effect?
Within two weeks, as described for XERF. A repeat session is recommended once every six months to one year.
Is there any downtime?
It is classed as a lifting treatment with minimal downtime. Saunas, jjimjilbang, hot baths and vigorous exercise are postponed for a few days, and your own precautions are given by the doctor who treated you.
Can I have it on the same day as something else?
That is a medical judgment made at the consultation. The absence of a numbing wait does make it easier to fit into a day with other plans in it.
This article is general information about a dermatological procedure and is not a diagnosis, a treatment recommendation, or a promise of any particular outcome. Results, sensation and recovery differ between individuals. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist about your own skin before deciding on treatment. AUVEL CLINIC, 12F, 138 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.