XERF vs Thermage Gangnam: Which Is Right for You?
XERF and Thermage both use monopolar RF but differ in frequency and energy delivery. Which is right for your skin thickness, facial fat, and degree of sagging?
"When Your Facial Contours
Look Less Defined Than Before"
If your jawline appears less defined in photos or your cheeks seem to
be sitting lower, you may start considering a skin-firming treatment.
When changing skincare products or trying facial massage
does not make a noticeable difference, radiofrequency lifting often becomes the next option.
When searching for skin-firming treatments in Gangnam, Seoul,
XERF and Thermage are frequently compared.
Both deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy to generate controlled heat within the skin.
This thermal response supports collagen remodeling, helping improve firmness and skin texture.
However, the devices differ in their frequency configurations
and methods of controlling energy delivery.
Here, we compare XERF and Thermage in Gangnam, Seoul,
and explain the key factors to consider when choosing between them.
"Why Do Facial Contours Seem to
Change from Day to Day?"
Changes in facial contours cannot be explained by skin laxity alone.
As we age, collagen and elastic fibers within the dermis decrease,
while skin thickness, fat distribution, and the structures supporting the face also change.
On thin, dry skin, fine lines and reduced firmness may become noticeable first.
In faces with more fat around the cheeks and jaw,
the lower face may appear heavier and the jawline less defined.
When the area beneath the cheekbones or the lateral cheeks is already hollow,
aggressive contouring may make the depressions appear more noticeable.
This is why people of the same age can have very different areas of concern and tissue conditions.
When choosing a skin-firming treatment, it is important to consider
more than device popularity or the number of shots.
Skin thickness, facial fat, natural contours,
and the desired degree of change should all be evaluated together.
"XERF and Thermage:
Different Energy-Delivery Systems"
Thermage delivers 6.78 MHz monopolar radiofrequency energy to
generate heat within the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
Thermage FLX uses AccuREP technology to measure tissue resistance
with each pulse and adjust energy delivery accordingly.
Its vibration and cooling systems also help protect the skin’s surface during treatment.
It may be used to address overall loss of facial firmness, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.
XERF also uses monopolar radiofrequency energy,
but differs in its combination of two frequencies: 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz.
Its Shallow, Middle, and Deep modes can be combined with adjustable energy levels,
allowing the treatment depth and distribution of
heat to be tailored to the skin thickness and treatment area.
XERF also uses real-time impedance feedback to measure tissue resistance
and adjust energy delivery, helping manage discomfort and unnecessary skin irritation.
XERF | Thermage FLX | |
|---|---|---|
Energy type | Monopolar radiofrequency | Monopolar radiofrequency |
Frequency | 6.78MHz·2MHz | 6.78MHz |
Key feature | Dual frequencies with three depth modes | Pulse-by-pulse energy adjustment using AccuREP |
Treatment customization | Depth mode adjusted according to skin thickness and treatment area | Tip, energy level, and pulse placement adjusted according to the treatment plan |
The key difference between XERF and Thermage is not whether they use radiofrequency energy,
but how their frequencies are configured and how energy delivery is controlled.
Rather than deciding which device is stronger, the treatment plan should focus on
how thermal energy will be delivered according to the condition of the facial tissues.
"Your Facial Structure
Should Come Before the Device"
1) A fuller lower face with heavier cheeks
2) Thin skin with hollow lateral cheeks
These two facial types require different treatment approaches.
For the first, treatment may focus on improving
firmness around the cheeks and jawline.
For the second, the energy level and treatment areas should be carefully adjusted to
avoid making facial hollows appear more pronounced.
At GU Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul,
we assess skin thickness, fat distribution, the direction of sagging,
and overall facial balance before determining the treatment area and energy level.
If you are deciding between XERF and Thermage,
begin by choosing a medical professional who can develop a plan
around the change you want to achieve—not by choosing the device name first.
The outcome of a radiofrequency lifting treatment
depends greatly on how it is designed and applied to your face.
Identifying the appropriate depth and treatment range
is the first step toward a more satisfying skin-firming plan.
"GU Clinic Gangnam:
Private Beauty, Designed for You"
Designated by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare
as an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution
(Designation No. Regeneration-1-0036)
3rd and 4th Floors, W Tower
54 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
* Directly outside Exit 7 of Sinnonhyeon Station / Near Gangnam Station
* Main line: +82-2-6241-0096
* Weekdays: 10:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
* Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: 10:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
(Closed on Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok Day)
* 25 doctors
(Including board-certified specialists in plastic surgery,
dermatology, and family medicine)
* Languages available for consultation:
Korean · English · Simplified Chinese · Traditional Chinese · Japanese
* Also operating a location in Ilsan
Treatment is overseen by Chief Medical Director Ki-beom Park.
B.S. in Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Yonsei University
M.D., Yonsei University College of Medicine
* Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, CHA University
* Co-founder of Gangnam Unni, a medical aesthetics information platform
* Founder and CEO of Healing Breeze, a medical service organization (MSO)
* Developer of GENABELLE, a K-derma cosmetics brand
* Developer of CELLORA of GU
