Lifting
Xerf vs Thermage in Seoul: Which RF Lift Fits Your Skin and Your Trip
Xerf and Thermage FLX are both monopolar RF; the difference is how many layers one shot is aimed at. On our list of 20 August 2026, Xerf is 1,290,000 KRW for 300 shots, before 10% VAT.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Jang Dong-hoon · Founder & Medical Director
Published · 7 min read
If you are typing xerf vs thermage, you have probably already decided on radiofrequency and are now looking at two price lines that sit close together. You want to know whether the newer device is a cheaper route to the same result, or a different treatment with a similar name.
Both are on our price list, and only one of them has years of our own treatment page behind it. This article keeps those two kinds of fact apart: what we can say about Thermage FLX from our own page, and what the maker of Xerf says about its device.
By the end you will know which question decides between them, what each costs here per shot count, how the session plan differs for someone flying in, and when we suggest neither.
Xerf vs Thermage: the question that decides it
The deciding question is not which machine is newer. It is which layer your laxity starts in, and how many visits your calendar allows.
| Question | Xerf | Thermage FLX |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar RF at 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz in each shot | Monopolar RF |
| Aimed at | Dermis, superficial fat or deeper structures, by mode | The dermis |
| Surface protection | Real-time cryogen cooling | Tip cools the surface between pulses |
| Plan the maker or we describe | Two sessions 4–6 weeks apart | One annual appointment |
| Typically lasts | Six to nine months, per the maker | About 12 months |
| From (KRW) | 1,290,000 for 300 shots | 1,990,000 for 600 shots |
Thermage FLX works in one layer, the dermis. Xerf's maker describes three modes, so the same handpiece can be set for the dermis, the superficial fat layer, or deeper structures linked to sagging.
That makes the xerf vs thermage choice less about strength and more about reach. Skin that has thinned is a dermis problem. A jowl that has dropped is usually a deeper one.
When Xerf fits
Xerf is made by Cynosure Lutronic. Its maker says each shot combines 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz, a dual frequency design, so energy reaches more than one depth in a single pass. We have no Xerf page of our own yet, so everything in this section is the maker's account, linked under the article.
- Three modes. Shallow targets the dermis, Middle reaches the superficial fat layer, and Deep reaches the structures the maker links to laxity and lifting.
- Cooling. Real-time cryogen cooling protects the surface, and the maker says this removes the need for numbing cream.
- Pulse delivery. WaveFit spreads the energy across several pulses, for a steadier rise in tissue temperature instead of one sharp burst.
- Areas named by the maker. Face and neck laxity, the brow, fine lines, the jawline and jowl, and the area under the chin.
The US FDA's 510(k) database lists XERF under Lutronic Corporation, decided on 11 August 2025, in a general electrosurgical classification. That record tells you the device was cleared in the US. It says nothing about how long a lift lasts, so read it as a regulatory fact, not a result.
When Thermage FLX fits
Thermage FLX sends monopolar radiofrequency into the collagen-rich dermis. Existing collagen contracts on the day, and new fibres keep forming for three to six months. It is FDA- and MFDS-cleared.
- Photo design. Your face is photographed and the treatment is drawn from it.
- A chart per zone. Energy level and shot count are set for each area before the first pulse.
- Two tips. The 4.0 cm² total tip covers the face, and the 0.25 cm² eye tip works on eyelid skin.
- Adjustment as it runs. Levels change during the session, and there is no downtime afterwards.
It suits creping on the neck, a softened line under the jaw, eyelid skin, and fine lines on the forehead and around the mouth. The sensation is moderate, with vibration and cooling, and the result is judged at month three rather than in the mirror that evening.
Eye Thermage is its own line on our list, because the lids need the small tip and their own shot count. If that is your main concern, our Thermage FLX price guide sets out every option.
Xerf and Thermage cost and downtime, side by side
| Device | Shots | Price (KRW) |
|---|---|---|
| Xerf | 300 | 1,290,000 |
| Xerf | 600 | 1,890,000 |
| Thermage FLX | 600 | 1,990,000 |
| Thermage FLX | 900 | 2,690,000 |
| Eye Thermage | 255 | 990,000 |
| Eye Thermage | 450 | 1,890,000 |
A shot on one device is not the same unit as a shot on another. The tip size, the energy and the number of passes differ, so 600 Xerf shots and 600 Thermage shots are not the same treatment at two prices.
The more useful sum is the whole plan. Each figure above is charged per session. If a plan has two Xerf visits, as its maker recommends, both are charged at the single-session rate. Thermage is planned here as one annual appointment.
Thermage FLX lists no downtime on our page. Xerf's maker describes minimal downtime and treatment without numbing cream. Neither needs recovery days built into your stay.
Prices are from the list of 20 August 2026 and exclude 10% VAT. The final figure is confirmed at consultation, after the 3D Meta-Vu scan and before anything is started.
Who should ask first, and what else is on our list
Radiofrequency is heat, and heat in the skin is not for everyone on every day. Tell us your medical history in consultation, including recent fillers, isotretinoin, or any medication that affects healing.
- If your skin is sensitive or reactive, Oligio is a sensor-guided monopolar RF with gas cooling and vibration, and a reasonable first RF treatment for that skin.
- If you are curious about 6.78 MHz, that is also the frequency of Volnewmer, which works in the deep dermis with continuous water cooling and a recessed tip edge.
- If the sagging is deeper than any RF reaches, HIFU at the SMAS is the next question. Our comparison of Ultherapy and Thermage covers it.
| Device | Works in | From (KRW) |
|---|---|---|
| Oligio | Dermis, sensor-guided | 109,000 for 100 shots |
| Volnewmer | Deep dermis, 6.78 MHz | 158,000 for 100 shots |
| Thermage FLX | Dermis | 1,990,000 for 600 shots |
Every device is listed on our medical devices page, and all of them sit under lifting and tightening.
What we recommend at consultation, including neither
We choose a lifting device by depth: radiofrequency in the dermis, HIFU at the SMAS, microwave in fat. The xerf vs thermage question only arises once we agree the answer is radiofrequency at all.
- Thinned skin, one trip a year. Thermage FLX is the plan that matches that calendar.
- Thicker skin with lower face descent, and a second visit possible. Xerf's multi-depth modes are worth discussing.
- Sensitive skin, or a first RF treatment. Oligio first, at a lower price per shot.
- Descent that starts at the fascia. Neither. That is a HIFU question, not an RF one.
We will say so when neither device fits, and we will not move you to the more expensive line to close the gap. When you are ready, tick Thermage FLX in the booking selector and send the list on WhatsApp, and we will discuss Xerf alongside it if your photo points that way.
The short version
- Xerf and Thermage FLX are both monopolar radiofrequency; Xerf's maker says each shot combines 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz across three depth modes, while Thermage FLX works in the dermis.
- On the price list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT, Xerf is 1,290,000 KRW for 300 shots or 1,890,000 KRW for 600, and Thermage FLX is 1,990,000 KRW for 600 or 2,690,000 KRW for 900.
- Xerf's maker recommends two sessions 4–6 weeks apart; Thermage FLX is planned here as one annual appointment.
- Shots are not comparable across devices, so compare the cost of the whole plan.
- When sagging starts at the fascia, we recommend neither and discuss HIFU instead.
Questions patients ask
What is the difference between Xerf and Thermage?
Both are monopolar radiofrequency. Thermage FLX works in the dermis, while Xerf's maker describes two frequencies per shot and three modes aimed at the dermis, the superficial fat layer or deeper structures.
Is Xerf cheaper than Thermage?
On the price list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT, Xerf is 1,290,000 KRW for 300 shots and Thermage FLX is 1,990,000 KRW for 600 shots. Shots are not the same unit on both devices, so the final figure is confirmed at consultation.
How many Xerf sessions do I need compared with Thermage?
Xerf's maker recommends two sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart, each charged at the single-session rate. Thermage FLX is planned here as one appointment a year.
How long do Xerf and Thermage last?
Thermage FLX lasts about 12 months, with collagen building for three to six months. Xerf's maker states results typically last six to nine months.
Does Xerf or Thermage hurt?
Thermage FLX is listed as moderate, with vibration and cooling. Xerf's maker says its cryogen cooling allows treatment without numbing cream.
Is there downtime after Xerf or Thermage?
Thermage FLX lists no downtime, and Xerf's maker describes minimal downtime. Neither needs recovery days built into a trip.
How do I book Xerf or Thermage from abroad?
Send a photo and your travel dates on WhatsApp. The clinic replies in English or Bahasa Indonesia, usually the same day.
Results and recovery vary between individuals, and every treatment can have side effects. Prices are from the clinic's price list and are confirmed at consultation. This article is general information, not a diagnosis.
Sources
About the author
Dr. Jang Dong-hoon
Founder & Medical Director
Founder and medical director of THE Beautiful Clinic in Nonhyeon, Gangnam. He sees every patient's skin analysis before a plan is drawn, and reviews every article on this blog against what the clinic actually does.
Credentials in full
