XERF (Cynosure Lutronic) is a radiofrequency device that, according to published studies, delivers two monopolar radiofrequency frequencies in a single shot, with the aim of firming mildly loose skin on the face and around the eyes. At ENTER Plastic Surgery, XERF treatment in Seoul is priced by shot count, begins with numbing cream and takes 30–60 minutes per session.
Is it for you?
Skin laxity that XERF is used for
Radiofrequency works on skin that has started to soften without yet folding over. That stage tends to show as a jawline that has lost its crisp edge, cheeks that sit a little lower than in photos from a few years ago, or fine, crepey texture on the eyelids and at the outer corners of the eyes. Heating the dermis is meant to tighten what is already there; it does not cut away or reposition tissue.
The limit is excess. When skin hangs in a fold along the jaw or the neck, the amount of tissue is beyond what heat in the skin can change, and a surgical lift is the fair point of comparison. Expectations matter just as much: changes from radiofrequency are gradual and modest, and some people see little difference after a session.
Usually a good fit
- Early softening along the jawline or the cheeks
- Crepey or lightly hooded skin around the eyes
- Wanting a session that allows a same-day flight
- Mild laxity with no large fold of excess skin
- Planning a repeat session about once a year
We may suggest waiting
- Heavy jowls or neck skin that hangs in folds
- A pacemaker or another implanted electronic device
- Pregnancy
- Active infection, open wounds or a rash on the area
- Expecting a surgical-level lift from one session
How it works
How XERF heats the skin with radiofrequency
Radiofrequency current meets resistance as it passes through tissue, and that resistance becomes heat. In the dermis, the dense middle layer of skin, warmth is intended to make existing collagen fibers contract and to prompt the skin to lay down new collagen over the following months. In monopolar radiofrequency in general, the current flows from the treatment tip toward a return pad placed elsewhere on the body, so heat can build beneath the surface instead of staying at the very top.
XERF is described in its published studies as a single-shot, dual-frequency monopolar device: each shot carries two radiofrequency frequencies at once (Erlich, 2026). The same research group also describes small tips for the thin skin around the eyes, and the clinic lists an eye-area line apart from the face lines.
Research on XERF itself is new and small. In a prospective multicenter study, 39 people received two sessions, and treating physicians rated improvement in 84.6% at 30 days and 92.3% at 90 days, with no lasting side effects; the study had no control group and a short follow-up (Weiss, 2026). A retrospective review of 16 women and a report on small eye-area tips add early observations, and their authors call the findings preliminary.
Choosing the shot count
Before the sessionThe face lines are 300 or 600 shots and the eye area has its own 100-shot line; the count is matched to how much skin is being treated.
Topical numbing first
Numbing cream is spread over the area and left to work, then wiped off and the skin cleaned before any energy is applied.
Shots across the area
30–60 minutes per sessionThe handpiece is placed on the skin shot by shot across the marked area, and each shot brings a brief wave of heat.
Settling the skin
The skin is cleaned and soothed. You can go back to your hotel, or straight to the airport, the same day.
How XERF sits beside the clinic's other energy devices
| Point of comparison | XERF | Thermage FLX | Ultherapy | Titanium lifting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy type | Radiofrequency | Monopolar radiofrequency | Micro-focused ultrasound | Laser |
| Numbing | Numbing cream | Numbing cream | Numbing cream | None |
| Session time | 30–60 minutes | 45–90 minutes | 30–60 minutes | 20–30 minutes |
| Sessions suggested | 1, repeated every 6–12 months | 1, repeated every 12 months | 1, repeated every 12–18 months | 3–5, every 2–4 weeks |
| Effect lasts (clinic guidance) | 6–12 months | 12–18 months | 12–18 months | 3–6 months |
| Flight home | Same day | Same day | Same day | Same day |
Figures are the clinic's own guidance per treatment; response differs from person to person.
Session by session
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First session | One session is the clinic's suggested plan. Any change in firmness builds gradually after the visit. |
| 6–12 months later | A repeat session within this window is how the clinic suggests keeping the effect, which it places at about 6–12 months. |
Your doctor
Chief Director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“Natural, yet clearly visible change.”Eyelid and facelift surgery at ENTER is planned and performed by Dr. Jang himself.
- NowChief Director, ENTER Plastic Surgery
- TrainingPlastic surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- FormerChief Director, Jang Plastic Surgery
- FormerDirector, Secret Plastic Surgery
- MemberKSPRS · KSAPS · ISAPS · ESOPRS · ASPS
At a glance
XERF session numbers at a glance
| Procedure time | 30–60 minutes |
|---|---|
| Anesthesia | Numbing cream |
| Downtime | About a week of flushing, warmth or a throbbing feeling |
| Recommended sessions | 1 session, repeated every 6–12 months |
| How long results last | About 6–12 months |
| Return to exercise | Generally, published studies report daily activities straight after treatment and set no exercise restriction, so exercise once redness and warmth settle |
| Earliest flight home | Same day |
Prices
XERF price list: face and eye-area shots
XERF is charged per session by the number of shots. A 300-shot face session is ₩1,100,000, and the 600-shot line doubles that shot count. The 100-shot line is for the skin around the eyes and can be booked by itself or next to a face line.
Each figure is a pre-tax amount, and Korea's 10% VAT is added to the total at payment. If you plan to add Botox or filler on the same trip, ask for those lines in the same written quote, keeping in mind the one-week gap the clinic advises after XERF.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Recovery
What the skin does after XERF
The treated skin looks pink and feels warm, much like after time in the sun. Ordinary plans, including a flight, can go ahead that day.
Redness, warmth and a throbbing feeling for up to about a week belong to normal recovery. Blistering, crusting or a patch that stays sore does not; message the clinic and leave it untreated at home.
With the skin calm, Botox or filler can follow. The clinic advises a one-week wait after the session before other treatments on the face.
The clinic places the effect at about 6–12 months and suggests a repeat session within that window if you want to keep it up.
Safety
Side effects and limits of XERF
Radiofrequency is non-invasive, yet it is still heat delivered into skin, and its side effects come from that heat. In the XERF studies to date, side effects were mild and temporary, but the groups were small.
- Redness, swelling or a warm, tight feeling that fades over days.
- A burn or blister where heat concentrates too long in one place.
- Small dents or loss of fat under the skin, a reported risk of radiofrequency heating.
- A modest, uneven or barely visible change, as response varies between people.
- Discomfort during the shots, even with numbing cream on the skin.
The largest published safety series comes from an older generation of monopolar radiofrequency, not from XERF. In 290 people treated on the face and neck with such a device, redness and swelling were uncommon, but second-degree burns were somewhat more frequent than in other reports, and the authors advised moderate energy settings without immediate overlapping passes (De Felipe, 2007). Those figures describe radiofrequency in general and are not XERF results.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Objective and subjective retrospective evaluation of XERF, a novel single-shot dual-frequency non-invasive monopolar radiofrequencyLasers in Medical Science · 2026 · Erlich G et al. · doi:10.1007/s10103-026-04996-0
Retrospective review of 16 women after XERF: improvements in facial contour, brow and upper-lid position, wrinkles and pores with higher FACE-Q scores and mild, short-lived side effects; the authors call it preliminary.
- Clinical Outcomes Following Dual-Frequency Noninvasive Monopolar Radiofrequency Treatment for Facial Laxity and Lower Face Lifting: A Prospective Multicenter StudyCureus · 2026 · Weiss R et al. · doi:10.7759/cureus.104546
Prospective multicenter study of 39 people after two dual-frequency monopolar RF sessions: physician-rated improvement in 84.6% at 30 days and 92.3% at 90 days, no lasting side effects; short and uncontrolled.
- Dual-Frequency Non-invasive Monopolar Radiofrequency for Periorbital Tightening: Introduction of Novel Small Treatment TipsCureus · 2026 · Erlich G et al. · doi:10.7759/cureus.101187
Description of a treatment protocol with small XERF tips for the eye area; improvements are anecdotal, and the authors state the report should not be read as evidence-based conclusions.
- Adverse reactions after nonablative radiofrequency: follow‐up of 290 patientsJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2007 · De Felipe I et al. · doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00322.x
Follow-up of 290 patients after an older non-ablative monopolar RF device: redness and swelling were rare, second-degree burns somewhat more frequent than elsewhere; background on RF safety, not XERF data.
FAQ
XERF FAQ for visitors to Seoul
How long does XERF last?
The clinic's guidance is about 6–12 months, and it suggests repeating the session within that window to keep the effect. Skin keeps aging between sessions, so the result fades gradually. How much change there is, and how long it shows, differs from one person to the next.
Is a same-day flight possible after XERF?
Yes. The clinic's guidance is that you can fly home on the day of the session. Expect some pinkness and warmth on board. Leave the skin alone during the flight, and if blisters or crusts appear after you land, message the clinic before treating them yourself.
Should I choose 300 or 600 XERF shots?
It depends on how much skin is being treated. The 600-shot line has twice the shots of the 300-shot line, and the eye area has its own 100-shot line. Tell the clinic which areas concern you when you enquire, and the shot count can be matched to them.
Is anesthesia needed for XERF?
No injection or sedation is used. Numbing cream, a topical anaesthetic as it is spelled in the UK, is spread over the skin and left to work before the shots begin. Each shot still brings a short wave of heat, so expect warmth and some discomfort during the session.
Does the XERF price include VAT?
No. Every XERF line is listed before tax, and 10% VAT is added at payment. A 300-shot face session is ₩1,100,000 + VAT, and the eye area starts at ₩400,000 + VAT for 100 shots. Ask for a written quote that lists each line.
Who gives XERF at ENTER Plastic Surgery?
XERF is a non-surgical treatment given at the clinic, and this page does not tie it to one named practitioner. ENTER Plastic Surgery is led by Dr. Jang Jin-woo, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon. When you enquire, you can ask who will plan and carry out your session.
How do I enquire about XERF from outside Korea?
Send the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp with the areas you want treated and your dates in Seoul, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic on the day of your visit.
Is there a deposit, and what if my plans change?
Deposit and cancellation terms are set for each booking and are not published on this page. Ask for them in writing before paying, together with how a moved appointment is handled, in case your flights move.
Can XERF be used around the eyes?
Yes. The clinic lists a separate 100-shot line for the eye area, where the skin is thin and creases early. Studies describe small XERF tips for this area, though the reported results so far are anecdotal. Radiofrequency does not remove eye bags or excess upper-lid skin.
Can XERF be combined with injections on one trip?
Yes, with a gap. The clinic advises waiting about one week after XERF, until the skin has calmed, before Botox or filler. On a shorter stay, plan the injections for a later visit or ask the clinic how the order of treatments could be arranged.
What does research show about XERF so far?
Early studies are encouraging but small. A prospective study of 39 people found physician-rated improvement in 92.3% at 90 days (Weiss, 2026), and a retrospective review of 16 women reported better contour and skin texture (Erlich, 2026). Neither had a control group, so the evidence is still limited.
When is XERF not enough for loose skin?
When skin hangs in folds along the jaw or neck, or heavy upper-lid skin rests on the lashes. Radiofrequency heats and tightens skin that is already in place; it cannot remove surplus tissue. In those cases a surgical option, such as a facelift or upper blepharoplasty, is the comparison to discuss.
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Great experience! Dr. is very sweet and kind. He listened to what I wanted to fix and correct. He explained everything very well. Wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to sell anything extra. This isn’t a clinic that comes out on instagram, which I…
Jennifer LyuA month agoI came to Enter Plastic Surgery on a friend’s recommendation for under-eye fat repositioning. I was pretty nervous going in, but the doctor took the time to explain what would work for my under-eyes, what the procedure involved, and what…
Michael2 months agoThe staff are incredibly friendly, and the consultation was very thorough. I was very worried since it was my first procedure, but the director explained the aftercare in detail, so I felt completely confident trusting them!!
ROOHEUI SHIN (RHS)2 months ago · Translated by Google