In Los Angeles, where high-definition cameras, video calls and social media capture every detail, most people want the same thing: to look like themselves, rested and defined, without looking treated.
That’s a large part of why XERF has become one of the most requested non-invasive treatments in our practice. It’s a radiofrequency skin tightening treatment that works below the surface to firm, lift and define with no needles, no incisions and no required downtime.
At BG Medical Aesthetics & Beautiful Glow in San Gabriel, we have performed more than 500 XERF treatments. That volume matters more than most people realize, because with energy-based devices, the operator’s judgment about depth, energy and placement determines the result at least as much as the machine does.
What XERF Is Cleared For
XERF received FDA 510(k) clearance in August 2025 (K251327) as a Class II device, found substantially equivalent to predicates including Thermage FLX. Its cleared indication is for use in dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis, and Cynosure Lutronic states that where “skin tightening” is used in relation to XERF, it describes tightening effects occurring via soft tissue coagulation.
Using a cleared device for an aesthetic application is ordinary dermatologic practice. But we’d rather you hear the precise version from us than assume something we didn’t say. We explain this at every consultation.
What XERF May Help Improve
- Mild to moderate skin laxity
- Loose or sagging skin on the lower face and neck
- Jawline definition and facial contour
- Early jowls
- Cheek and midface firmness
- Fine lines and skin texture
- Skin elasticity
- Laxity following significant weight loss
XERF may also be used on non-facial areas with laxity, including the upper arms and abdomen.
What XERF does not do: it does not treat pigmentation, dark spots or acne scars that’s a laser’s job. It does not replace lost facial volume. And it does not substitute for surgery in patients with significant laxity. If one of those is your actual concern, we’ll tell you at consultation and point you in the right direction.
Why Patients Choose XERF
No downtime
XERF is non-invasive, needle-free, and requires no recovery period. No bruising, no peeling. Most patients return the same day to work, meetings or events. Mild redness or warmth for a few hours is possible and typically resolves quickly.
Visible change, then continued improvement
Many patients notice a subtle tightening and a fresher appearance shortly after treatment. It’s worth being precise about what that is: same-day tightening is largely a heat-contraction effect, and it partially softens over the following days.
The durable result comes later. New collagen deposition generally becomes visible around four to six weeks and continues developing for roughly three months. Commonly cited duration for XERF results is 12 to 18 months, with maintenance sessions used to extend that.
We tell patients to judge the treatment at twelve weeks, not twelve hours. Anyone promising a permanent same-day transformation is overselling.
Individual results vary. No specific outcome or duration can be guaranteed.
Jawline and lower-face definition
The lower face is not a flat plane. The jawline, pre-jowl area, chin and submental triangle each have different skin thickness, fat distribution and laxity. XERF’s three depth settings let us re-configure zone by zone, so the result reads as a continuous contour rather than a treated patch.
Comfortable
Most patients describe XERF as a deep, moving warmth, several compare it to a hot stone massage. Brief sharper sensations are commonly reported along the jawline and other bony areas. Numbing cream is usually unnecessary.
Preventative option
Patients in their 30s often use XERF before laxity becomes pronounced, aiming to support collagen production earlier rather than correct laxity later. This is a reasonable strategy, though it’s worth being clear that long-term preventative benefit has not been quantified in published research.
Why Experience Matters With XERF
Two clinics can own the same device and produce noticeably different results. This is the honest reason to choose a provider, and it’s more useful than any superlative.
Technique determines:
- Zone-by-zone laxity mapping rather than uniform treatment
- Depth selection per area — thin periorbital skin and dense submental tissue are treated differently
- Where to stack energy for lift, and where to stay conservative so volume loss isn’t exaggerated
- Vector planning — directing passes along the intended lift vector
- Recognizing when tightening is the wrong answer and saying so
At BG Medical Aesthetics & Beautiful Glow, we have completed more than 500 XERF treatments. We assess skin laxity grade, facial shape, mandibular structure, skin thickness and volume status before building any plan.
If we don’t think XERF will get you where you want to go, we’ll tell you at consultation rather than after you’ve paid.
Is XERF Right for You?
Good candidates
- Mild to moderate skin laxity
- Typically mid-30s through 60s, though candidacy is anatomical rather than age-based
- Reasonable remaining skin thickness and elasticity
- Want improvement without surgery or downtime
- Understand results build gradually and may want maintenance over time
- Generally good health, not pregnant or breastfeeding
When we recommend something else
Non-surgical tightening has a ceiling, and we’d rather name it than sell past it. We refer to a board-certified facial plastic or dermatologic surgeon when patients have:
- Significant skin laxity or heavy, established jowls
- Excess skin that folds rather than sags
- Marked platysmal banding in the neck
- Expectations of a facelift-level change
And we’ll recommend a different treatment entirely if your primary concern is volume loss (filler or biostimulators) or pigmentation and texture (laser).
Contraindications
Tell us if you have or use any of the following, some exclude treatment, others change the plan:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Pacemaker, ICD or other implanted electronic device, a specific concern with radiofrequency
- Metal implants or permanent dermal fillers in the treatment area
- Active infection or open wounds in the area
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Autoimmune or connective tissue disease
- Uncontrolled diabetes or impaired wound healing
- Recent isotretinoin use
- Active or unstable melasma in the treatment area, heat can be a melasma trigger
- Recent injectables in the area; we typically space energy treatments from neurotoxin and filler by about two weeks
This list is not exhaustive and does not replace a medical consultation.
Possible side effects
Most commonly mild redness, warmth and temporary sensitivity resolving within hours. Less commonly, transient swelling or tenderness. As with any radiofrequency device, rare risks include burns or blistering, which is precisely why operator experience and appropriate settings matter.
What to Expect
Before: arrive with clean skin, no makeup or SPF in the treatment area. Pause retinoids and acids for 3–5 days. Skip alcohol for 24 hours. Schedule at least two weeks after any neurotoxin or filler in the same area. We’ll take baseline photographs, insist on this anywhere you go, because you will not accurately remember your starting point.
During: conductive gel is applied and the handpiece glides across the area in passes, with depth and intensity adjusted by zone. Most face-and-neck sessions run 30–45 minutes. You’ll feel warmth building and receding as the cooling cycles. Tell us if anything becomes genuinely uncomfortable, settings should be adjusted, not endured.
Sessions: most patients are advised two treatments spaced roughly four to six weeks apart, with some adding a maintenance session at three to six months. Your protocol is confirmed at consultation, before you pay.
After: makeup and normal activity same day. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ (non-negotiable, UV degrades the collagen you just built). No saunas or hot yoga for 24–48 hours. Resume active skincare after 2–3 days.
Results timeline: any same-day tightening may soften slightly over the first week, expected, not failure. New collagen becomes visible around weeks 4–6. Evaluate at weeks 8–12 with matched-lighting photos. Peak result typically months 3–6. Reassess at 12–18 months.
XERF Cost in Los Angeles & San Gabriel
Published U.S. pricing for XERF generally runs $1,500–$3,000 per session, with full face and neck often around $2,500 and smaller single zones starting lower. Because two sessions are commonly recommended, budget the full protocol, not a single session.
Los Angeles County generally runs above national averages. Your exact cost depends on treatment area, number of zones and your protocol.
We provide an exact written quote at consultation, with all variables disclosed, before you commit to anything. XERF is a cosmetic treatment and is not covered by insurance.
How XERF Compares to Other Skin Tightening Treatments
| Treatment | Energy | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XERF | Dual-frequency monopolar RF | Multi-depth, three settings | Multi-zone customization; often visible same-day change |
| Sofwave | Ultrasound (SUPERB) | Fixed 1.5 mm mid-dermis | Broader aesthetic FDA indications; strong published evidence |
| Ultherapy | Micro-focused ultrasound | 1.5 / 3.0 / 4.5 mm | Deepest focal lifting; longest track record; less comfortable |
| Thermage FLX | Single-frequency monopolar RF | Single depth | Long-established RF benchmark |
| Morpheus8 | RF microneedling | Adjustable, via needles | Texture and scarring plus laxity; has real downtime |
Book a XERF Consultation
The only reliable way to know whether XERF suits your skin is an in-person assessment of your laxity, facial structure and volume status.
At BG Medical Aesthetics & Beautiful Glow, we’ll evaluate your skin, explain what XERF realistically can and cannot achieve for you, give you an exact written quote, and build a plan or tell you honestly if a different treatment or a surgical consult would serve you better.