If you have areas of loose skin and are weighing your options for treatment, you might be wondering how XERF vs. Morpheus8, Thermage, Ultherapy, and other treatments compare.
XERF is a non-surgical skin tightening treatment that uses radio frequency to correct mild laxity and prompt the creation of new collagen that leaves your skin looking smoother and firmer without surgery, using any needles, or downtime.
Quick Comparison Overview Of Skin Tightening Treatments
The best skin tightening treatment for you will depend on the severity of your loose skin, where it is located, how much downtime you are willing to have, and if you have other concerns you would like to target at the same time.
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| Treatment | Technology Type | Best For | Limitations To Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| XERF | Dual-frequency radiofrequency (RF) | Best for mild to moderate skin laxity, improving firmness, and creating better definition along the jawline and neck. It also helps encourage the production of new collagen without surgery. | It cannot correct significant skin sagging or offer the same results as a facelift. |
| Morpheus8 | A combination of radiofrequency & microneedling | Helps improve the texture of your skin, tightens a mild amount of loose skin, and reduces the appearance of acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Treats the surface of the skin and the deeper layers. | The treatment uses tiny needles, so while there is usually not any physical downtime, many have social downtime, redness, and some mild discomfort compared to non-invasive RF treatments. |
| Thermage | Radiofrequency (RF) | Helps improve the appearance of your skin without surgery. Offers mild skin tightening and smoothing on your face and body and helps stimulate new collagen production to gradually improve the firmness of your skin. | The treatment may not target multiple tissue depths as precisely as the newer technologies, so the results are usually more subtle. |
| Ultherapy | Focused ultrasound | Helps lift and tighten your brow, jawline, neck, and under your chin by prompting the creation of new collagen. | Many find the procedure to be very uncomfortable, and the results usually take several months to manifest. |
| Microneedling | Tiny needles that create controlled micro-injuries | Improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of pores, softens fine lines, and gives your skin a healthier, brighter look. | It does not provide significant skin lifting or tightening. |
| Surgical Facelift | Cosmetic surgery | Can help tighten moderate to severe skin sagging, remove excess skin, and correct deeper signs of facial aging. It provides dramatic and longer-lasting results. | It requires anesthesia, a longer recovery period, and carries risks associated with surgery. |
| Laser Resurfacing | Fractional laser or CO₂ laser | It is best for correcting sun damage, uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and improving the texture of your skin. | It improves the skin’s surface and does not provide significant lifting or tightening of loose skin. |
What Is XERF Skin Tightening?
XERF is one of the newest skin tightening treatments available today and uses radiofrequency to tighten loose skin and stimulate new collagen production without surgery, needles, anesthesia, or downtime.
It was developed in South Korea, became available in the United States in 2025, and is now offered at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Atlanta, GA.
It is different from other radiofrequency treatments because the XERF device uses two radiofrequency frequencies at the same time. This means it can treat multiple layers of your skin during the same treatment session instead of only targeting one depth, which smooths and tightens the surface of the skin and provides lift to the underlying structure at the same time.
It is often used to eliminate the appearance of early jowls and loose skin on the neck and to tighten up mild to moderate loose skin but cannot offer the same results as surgery for severe skin laxity.
XERF vs. Morpheus8, Thermage, And Ultherapy
XERF vs. Morpheus8
Technology
XERF: Needle-free dual-frequency radiofrequency
Morpheus8: Radiofrequency and microneedling
Treats
XERF: Loose skin and loss of firmness
Morpheus8: Acne scars, wrinkles, enlarged pores, texture, and mild loose skin.
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: Skin tightening
Morpheus8: Skin resurfacing using needles and some tightening
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime
Morpheus8: Mild
XERF vs. Thermage
Technology
XERF: Dual-frequency radiofrequency treatment without needles.
Thermage: Single-frequency, needle-free radiofrequency treatment.
Treats
XERF: Loose skin, mild to moderate skin laxity, and firm underlying tissue.
Thermage: Loose skin, fine lines, and mild skin laxity
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: A customized skin tightening treatment that can target issues on the surface and deep in the skin’s layers.
Thermage: Tighter skin without surgery using a long-established radiofrequency treatment.
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime
Thermage: Little to no downtime
XERF vs. Ultherapy
Technology
XERF: Radiofrequency that can target 2 frequencies at the same time.
Ultherapy: Focused ultrasound energy
Treats
XERF: Mild to moderate skin laxity to tighten skin and firm deeper layers.
Ultherapy: Loose skin on the brow, jawline, neck, and under the chin.
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: A skin tightening treatment that can be customized to target issues on the surface and into the deeper layers.
Ultherapy: A non-surgical lifting treatment for the face and neck
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime
Ultherapy: Little to no downtime
XERF vs. Microneedling, Laser Resurfacing, and Surgical Facelift
XERF vs. Microneedling
Technology
XERF: Needle-free dual-frequency radiofrequency
Microneedling: Tiny needles that create controlled micro-injuries to stimulate collagen production.
Treats
XERF: Mild to moderate skin laxity to tighten skin and firm deeper layers.
Microneedling: Fine lines, enlarged pores, acne scars, uneven skin texture, and dull skin
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: A skin tightening treatment that can be customized to target issues on the surface and into the deeper layers.
Microneedling: Smoother skin texture and improved skin quality rather than significant skin tightening
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime
Microneedling: Mild redness for one to three days
XERF vs. Laser Resurfacing
Technology
XERF: Needle-free dual-frequency radiofrequency
Laser Resurfacing: Fractional laser or CO₂ laser
Treats
XERF: Mild to moderate skin laxity to tighten and firm skin and the deeper layers.
Laser Resurfacing: Fine lines, sun damage, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and skin texture.
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: Tighter and firmer skin.
Laser Resurfacing: Smoother skin, improved texture, and a more even skin tone.
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime
Laser Resurfacing: Mild to moderate downtime, depending on the type of laser used.
XERF vs Surgical Facelift
Technology
XERF: Non-surgical and can treat mild laxity with two depths of radiofrequency.
Surgical Facelift: Cosmetic surgery that tightens underlying tissues and removes excess skin.
Treats
XERF: Tightens and firms mild to moderately lax skin and underlying tissues.
Surgical Facelift: Moderate to severe skin sagging, excess skin, and aging of the cheeks, jawline, and neck.
Best For Candidates Who Desire
XERF: Tighter and firmer skin.
Surgical Facelift: More dramatic and longer-lasting correction of advanced facial aging.
Downtime
XERF: Virtually no downtime.
Surgical Facelift: Several weeks of recovery with surgery and anesthesia.
How To Know Which Treatment Is Right For You
The best way to determine which treatment will give you the results you are looking for is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Angelina Postoev, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon, or one of the qualified specialists at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa.
During your consultation, you should be able to tell your specialist the results you are looking for. Use this quick checklist to help you know the types of things you need to share with the surgeon so they can determine the best treatment or combination of treatments needed to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
- What are your main concerns? (loose skin, wrinkles, acne scars, uneven texture, excess skin)
- How much downtime can you manage?
- Are you looking for non-invasive treatments only, or would you be willing to undergo the use of needles, lasers, or surgery to get the results you want?
- Are you looking for subtle skin tightening and improvements or more dramatic results?
- Do you have any medical conditions or implanted devices, are you pregnant, or have skin conditions that could affect your treatment options?
Schedule your consultation today with IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa to learn more about XERF and other treatments that can tighten or resurface your complexion.
FAQs
Is XERF Better than Morpheus8?
No. The two treatments both use radiofrequency, but they work in different ways, so it depends on the results you are looking for. XERF works very well for skin tightening without using any needles, and Morpheus8 helps improve the texture of your skin, reduces the appearance of acne scars and enlarged pores, and can provide some mild skin tightening.
Is XERF the Same as Thermage?
No. Both treatments are radiofrequency-based, but the technologies they use each work a bit differently. XERF can emit 2 different radio frequencies at the same time to target more than one issue during one session, and Thermage can only target one concern at a time.
Can XERF replace Ultherapy?
No. XERF and Ultherapy use different kinds of energy and do not work the same. XERF uses targeted radiofrequency, and Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound. Dr. Angelina can help guide you to the one that best fits your needs.
Does XERF Give You Facelift Results?
No. XERF can tighten a mild to moderate amount of loose skin, but it cannot eliminate excess skin and deliver the dramatic results of a face lift.
Can XERF Be Combined with Other Treatments, Like Microneedling or Laser Resurfacing?
Yes. Dr. Angelina may combine different procedures in your treatment plan to give you the results you desire. XERF can be used alongside microneedling or laser resurfacing to target different cosmetic concerns. The treatments will be timed and scheduled so they give you the best results.
