If you’ve spent any time on beauty TikTok, Instagram, or in the waiting room of a med spa lately, chances are you’ve heard someone mention XERF. The Korean born radiofrequency treatment has quickly become one of the most talked about procedures in aesthetics, generating buzz for its ability to lift, tighten, and stimulate collagen with little to no downtime.
To learn more about what makes the treatment different, who it’s best suited for, and whether it lives up to the hype, we spoke with the founders of Skin Select in Los Angeles. Co founders Jinli Wu, PA-C and Tiffany Wang, PA-C bring extensive experience in dermatology, facial plastic surgery, injectables, lasers, and advanced aesthetic treatments. Known for their natural looking results and thoughtful approach to patient care, they’re often among the first to evaluate emerging technologies and determine which ones truly deliver for patients.
In Conversation with Jinli Wu, PA-C and Tiffany Wang, PA-C
Before we dive into XERF, tell us a little about your backgrounds and how the two of you ultimately came together to launch Skin Select? We’re dermatology and plastic surgery trained physician assistants with a focus on facial balancing, lasers, and overall skin health. Our approach has always been centered around natural results that help patients feel confident and still look like themselves.
We actually became best friends while working together in dermatology and quickly realized we shared the same passion for aesthetics and patient care. That ultimately led us to create a space where patients could receive both high-quality treatments and a true concierge experience. We wanted to build an environment where we could spend more time with our patients, educate them thoroughly, and provide thoughtful, personalized care instead of a rushed experience.
You’ve both been trained across dermatology, facial plastic surgery, and medical aesthetics. How has that combination shaped the way you approach beauty and patient care today? Our medical training gave us a strong understanding of both the skin and facial anatomy, which is extremely important when it comes to patient safety. It also taught us to look at the face as a whole instead of focusing on just one feature or concern, allowing us to create more balanced and natural-looking results
A lot of patients today are looking for results that feel natural, refined, and still very much like themselves. How would you describe the overall aesthetic philosophy behind Skin Select? The philosophy behind Skin Select MedSpa is that aesthetic treatments should enhance, not erase, what makes each person unique. Our approach is rooted in natural results, individualized care, cutting-edge technology, scientific expertise, and long-term skin health. We focus on helping patients feel confident, refreshed, and empowered through honest guidance, safe treatments, and a personalized approach to beauty and wellness.
XERF originated in Korea, where aesthetic innovation tends to move incredibly fast. What stood out to you about the technology when you first encountered it? From your perspective, what’s driving the sudden surge in interest? What immediately stood out to us about XERF was how well it combined innovation, comfort, and results. We personally test every device before bringing it into our clinic, and XERF impressed us because patients can often see a noticeable lifting and tightening effect with little to no pain and virtually no downtime.
Skin tightening treatments are in especially high demand right now because patients want results that feel effective but still fit into their lifestyle. We believe the growing interest in XERF reflects a larger shift toward treatments that support long-term skin health, collagen stimulation, and natural-looking rejuvenation rather than dramatic or overdone results
For someone hearing about XERF for the first time, how would you explain what it is and what makes it stand apart from other popular skin tightening treatments like Sofwave, Thermage, Ultherapy, and Morpheus8? XERF is a non-invasive radiofrequency skin tightening treatment designed to firm, lift, and improve skin quality by stimulating your body’s natural collagen and elastin production without surgery or needles. What makes it unique is that it targets both superficial and deeper tissue layers, which helps support and anchor the face beneath the skin. Compared to other skin tightening lasers and devices, XERF is comfortable, has essentially no downtime, is safe for all skin types, and tightens the skin without melting facial fat.
What is happening beneath the skin during a XERF treatment that leads to lifting, tightening, and collagen stimulation over time? What makes XERF so effective is that it heats the deeper layers of tissue while keeping the surface of the skin protected and comfortable. Beneath the skin, the heat causes existing collagen fibers to contract, which can create an early tightening effect, while also stimulating fibroblasts — the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. Over the next few months, the body continues building new collagen and supportive tissue, which helps improve firmness and lift. That’s why results continue to gradually improve for about 2–6 months after treatment.
Who is the ideal candidate for XERF right now? Are you seeing younger patients become interested in treatments like this as more of a preventative approach? The ideal XERF candidate is someone starting to notice mild to moderate skin laxity who wants tightening and lifting without surgery or significant downtime. Common concerns include jawline definition, jowls, lower face heaviness, under-chin laxity, crepey skin, and early loss of firmness or elasticity.
In Korea, treatments like XERF are often done more preventatively rather than reactively. Many patients start collagen-stimulating treatments earlier, sometimes in their late 20s or 30s, to help maintain skin firmness and slow visible aging before significant laxity develops.
What areas of the face or body tend to respond best to XERF? The areas that tend to respond best to XERF are the jawline, jowls, under the chin, lower cheeks, and neck, where patients often notice firmer skin, better definition, and a more lifted appearance over time. It can also improve crepey skin texture, overall skin quality, and mild brow lifting.
On the body, common treatment areas include the abdomen, upper arms, inner thighs, above the knees, and bra-line area. Results are typically best in patients with mild to moderate skin laxity and good underlying skin quality.
One of the biggest concerns people always have with med spa treatments is downtime. XERF is known for having little to no downtime, but what can someone realistically expect right after treatment and how long does it usually take to start seeing results? One of the biggest reasons patients love XERF is because it gives tightening and collagen-stimulating results without the downtime that comes with more aggressive treatments. After treatment, some patients may have some mild redness or warmth that usually goes away within a few hours. Some people notice a subtle tightening effect early on, but the more noticeable lifting and firming happens gradually over the next 2–3 months as collagen continues to build. Results can keep improving for up to 6 months after treatment.
Is XERF more of a one time treatment or something people maintain over time? XERF is best thought of as a collagen maintenance and remodeling treatment rather than a permanent one-time fix. XERF helps stimulate your body’s own collagen production, but we continue losing collagen as we age. Maintenance treatments help support and preserve those results over time
Does it matter who performs a treatment like XERF, or is the technology itself doing most of the work? What should people look for when choosing a provider for RF based treatments? The technology matters, but the person performing the treatment matters just as much. Devices like XERF are powerful tools, but good results really come down to the provider’s experience, understanding of facial anatomy, and ability to customize the treatment safely for each patient. Patients should look for a provider with experience using energy-based devices, a focus on natural-looking results, and a personalized approach. It’s also important to choose a clinic that prioritizes patient safety, education, and honest consultations about what treatments are truly appropriate for you.
If someone is curious about XERF but overwhelmed by all the information online, what’s the one thing you’d want them to understand before booking a treatment? The best thing you can do is schedule a consultation with an experienced XERF provider to discuss your anatomy, concerns, and goals. A good provider will help determine whether XERF is actually the right fit for you and create a treatment plan that’s personalized specifically to your needs.
To learn more about XERF or connect with the team at Skin Select, visit https://www.skinselect.com/ or schedule a consultation.
