XERF™ Skin Tightening in Zurich

XERF is an advanced non-invasive monopolar radiofrequency treatment designed to improve skin firmness and support collagen remodelling.

Rather than resurfacing the skin or adding volume, XERF delivers controlled thermal energy beneath the skin surface. Its distinctive technology combines two radiofrequency frequencies, 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz, with three selectable treatment depths, allowing different tissue levels to be addressed within an individually adapted treatment.

At Skin Atelier Kilchberg, XERF is used for patients seeking sophisticated, natural-looking skin tightening without surgery, needles, or significant recovery time.

XERF uses monopolar radiofrequency energy to generate controlled heat within targeted tissue layers.

This thermal response influences collagen-rich tissue and initiates a longer-term remodelling process. Histological research associated with the technology has demonstrated changes in collagen bundles at multiple tissue depths following treatment.

The treatment can be adjusted across shallow, middle and deeper settings according to the anatomy and treatment objective.

Unlike a laser, radiofrequency is an electrical form of energy rather than light. XERF therefore works beneath an intact skin surface rather than resurfacing it.

XERF is particularly relevant when the concern is loss of firmness and facial definition rather than pigmentation or surface texture alone. Treatment may be considered for concerns including:

• lower-face laxity
• early jowls
• jawline definition
• skin beneath the chin
• cheeks
• neck
• fine lines associated with declining elasticity
• reduced overall skin firmness
  
  

Clinical research on dual-frequency XERF treatment has specifically evaluated facial laxity, lower-face lifting and improvement around the jawline and neck.
Your treatment area and settings are determined following an individual consultation.

XERF may be particularly suitable for women and men who are beginning to notice mild to moderate loss of firmness, softer facial contours or early laxity but do not require, or do not wish to undergo surgical intervention.

It can also be considered by patients who prioritise preventive aesthetic medicine and want to support collagen quality before more advanced laxity develops.

XERF cannot reproduce the results of surgical lifting where substantial tissue laxity is present. A consultation is therefore important to establish whether radiofrequency treatment, another technology or a combination approach is most appropriate.

Both treatments use radiofrequency energy, but they deliver it in fundamentally different ways.

XERF is non-invasive monopolar radiofrequency. Energy passes through an intact skin surface, without needles, to generate controlled heating at selected tissue depths.

Morpheus8™ is fractional radiofrequency microneedling. Fine needles physically enter the skin and deliver RF energy through the microneedle array.

Because the mechanisms differ, the treatments are not simply interchangeable. XERF may be particularly attractive when the primary goal is non-invasive tightening and structural support with no downtime, while RF microneedling may be selected when treatment of skin texture and fractional remodelling is also desired.

At Skin Atelier Kilchberg, we carefully tailor our technology choices to your unique tissue characteristics and desired outcomes, ensuring the most effective and natural-looking results.

XERF has been designed with patient comfort as an integral part of the technology.
During treatment, patients typically experience a sequence of controlled warmth followed by cooling rather than the sensation associated with needles or ablative procedures.

The system combines Wave Fit™ energy delivery with Advanced Integrated Cryogen Delivery cooling, helping control energy while maintaining the temperature of the skin surface. For this reason, XERF is designed to be performed without numbing cream.

Individual sensitivity naturally varies, and treatment intensity is adjusted to the patient and anatomical area.

XERF does not intentionally disrupt the epidermal barrier, and the manufacturer describes the treatment as requiring no procedural downtime.

Most patients can return to work and normal daily activities immediately following treatment.

Temporary warmth, redness, mild swelling or sensitivity can nevertheless occur following energy-based treatments. Individual aftercare recommendations will be provided by our team.

Changes following radiofrequency treatment are progressive. An initial feeling of firmness may sometimes be noticed relatively early, but the more important biological process is collagen remodelling, which develops over the following weeks.

In a 2026 prospective multicentre XERF study, clinical improvement was assessed at both 30 and 90 days, with investigator-rated improvement increasing between the two assessment points.

For this reason, we recommend evaluating XERF results over months rather than judging the treatment immediately after the appointment.

There is no universal XERF protocol suitable for every face.

The appropriate number of treatments depends on age, tissue quality, degree of laxity, anatomy and the desired level of correction.

In a recent prospective multicentre study, participants received two treatments, with sessions spaced four weeks apart, and continued improvement was observed through the 90-day follow-up.

At Skin Atelier Kilchberg, we prefer to determine treatment frequency following assessment rather than automatically prescribing a fixed package. Maintenance may subsequently be recommended according to the way your skin responds and continues to age.

Yes. In many patients, the most refined results come from addressing different components of facial ageing separately.

XERF may be incorporated into a treatment plan alongside regenerative treatments such as PRP, Polynucleotides or Skin Boosters, or with treatments addressing facial volume, muscular activity, or skin surface quality, such as Hyaluronic Acid Fillers, BTX, Fotona 4D® or fractional laser therapy.

This does not necessarily mean performing several procedures during the same appointment. Energy treatments and injectables often benefit from deliberate sequencing.