What Is XERF Skin Tightening in Portland & Vancouver, WA?
XERF is a non-invasive, needle-free radiofrequency skin tightening treatment made by Cynosure Lutronic. A cooled treatment tip delivers monopolar radiofrequency energy beneath the skin's surface, which contracts existing collagen and prompts new collagen to form over the following months. Cosmetiq Medicine performs XERF for Portland and Vancouver patients at our Vancouver, WA clinic, where Cynosure Lutronic-trained XERF specialists Tabi and Arwa Salti treat loose skin on the face, jawline, jowls, and neck.
- Monopolar RF
- Cooled Tip
- No Needles
XERF at a Glance
How Does XERF Work?
XERF delivers monopolar radiofrequency energy through a cooled treatment tip, combining two frequencies so heat reaches multiple tissue depths. The cooling protects the skin's surface while deeper tissue warms. Unlike RF microneedling with Potenza, XERF uses no needles. The heat triggers collagen remodeling, a process described in Cleveland Clinic's radiofrequency skin tightening overview.
What Areas Can XERF Treat?
XERF facial skin tightening treats the lower face, jawline, jowls, and neck, where loose skin often shows first. Common goals include softening early jowls, refining a blurred jawline, and firming crepey neck skin. XERF tightens skin but does not replace lost volume, so when hollowing is part of the concern, collagen biostimulator treatments or dermal filler treatments may be added to the treatment plan.
Who Is a Good Candidate for XERF?
Adults with mild to moderate skin laxity who want firmer skin without surgery are typical XERF candidates. Radiofrequency results develop gradually, and the American Academy of Dermatology guide to firming sagging skin notes that nonsurgical tightening cannot match a surgical facelift for significant sagging. A XERF consultation reviews your medical history, skin, and goals before treatment.
Who Performs XERF at Cosmetiq Medicine?
XERF at Cosmetiq Medicine is performed by two XERF specialists: Tabi, our advanced laser and facial aesthetician, and Arwa Salti, NP, our founder. Both were trained on XERF by Cynosure Lutronic, the company that makes the device, and plan each treatment around your laxity, skin, and goals. Arwa also leads injectable planning when XERF is paired with Botox or filler.
How Much Does XERF Cost?
XERF is $1,800 per treatment at Cosmetiq Medicine for Portland and Vancouver patients. Published pricing nationally runs roughly $1,500 to $3,000 per session, and memberships, CareCredit, and Cherry payment plans can spread the cost. Our XERF cost and results guide explains what drives the price and how many visits each option takes.
Where Can I Get XERF in Portland or Vancouver, WA?
Portland patients receive XERF at Cosmetiq Medicine's Vancouver, WA clinic at 12000 SE Mill Plain Blvd, where patients from Clackamas, Troutdale, Camas, and across Clark County book XERF too. Our Portland clinic on SE Stark St offers injectables, so Botox and Dysport in Portland can be planned alongside your XERF treatment.
Updated September 2026. Sources include the U.S. FDA 510(k) database, the American Academy of Dermatology, and Cleveland Clinic.
XERF Results for the Jowls, Jawline & Neck
For Portland patients looking for skin tightening without surgery, XERF results show most clearly where loose skin first blurs the lower face: the jowls, the jawline, and the neck. Compare XERF before and after photos for each area below. Change develops gradually as collagen remodels, and a 2025 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study on monopolar radiofrequency found improved jawline sagging and denser collagen after treatment.
Tighter Jowls Without Surgery
Jowls form when the connective tissue supporting the lower face loosens and soft tissue settles along the jaw. XERF heats and contracts that supportive tissue, which can reduce the overhang and smooth the break between cheek and chin. The most visible change comes with mild to moderate jowling.
A More Defined Jawline
Early laxity softens the angle under the jaw before it shows anywhere else. XERF tightens skin along the jawline so the lower face reads cleaner in profile. When the goal is added projection or a sharper shape rather than tightening, non-surgical jawline contouring with filler may suit you better.
A Firmer Neck and Under-Chin
Crepey neck skin and a loose under-chin are common reasons patients ask about XERF. Radiofrequency energy firms lax skin across the front of the neck and beneath the jaw. When under-chin fullness comes from fat rather than loose skin, Kybella for under-chin fat treats that separately.
- Collagen rejuvenationHeat prompts new collagen, so firmness builds after your visit.
- Natural-looking changeResults develop gradually and read as refreshed, not altered.
- No incisions or needlesEnergy reaches deeper tissue through the skin's surface.
Individual results vary. XERF is performed at our Vancouver, WA clinic for patients across Portland and Clark County, and your provider will explain what is realistic for your skin at your visit.
Your XERF Specialists in Vancouver, WA The team behind every Portland and Vancouver treatment
XERF at Cosmetiq Medicine is performed at our Vancouver, WA clinic by Tabi and Arwa Salti, our founder, both trained on XERF by Cynosure Lutronic, the company that makes the device. Sarah Sheeti joins them on the energy-based side of our menu, so your XERF, laser hair removal and IPL plan stays with the same small team from consultation to follow-up.
Arwa Salti
Founder of Cosmetiq Medicine
Arwa founded Cosmetiq Medicine and takes a safety-first approach to natural-looking results. She reviews your candidacy and pairs XERF with Botox, filler or Sculptra when lines or lost volume need attention too.
Tabi
Advanced laser and facial aesthetician
Tabi leads device treatments at our Vancouver clinic and builds a planned series around what your skin is doing, from corrective facials for pigmentation to XERF and Potenza RF microneedling.
Sarah Sheeti
Master aesthetician
With more than six years in advanced skincare, Sarah covers radiofrequency, laser hair removal in Vancouver, WA and IPL photofacials, and gives a straight answer on which treatment suits your skin.
XERF Skin Tightening Explained on Video
In this introduction, Cosmetiq Medicine explains what XERF is, how its radiofrequency energy tightens skin, and who the treatment suits. Watching first helps Portland and Vancouver patients use their consultation at our Vancouver, WA clinic to focus on their own skin, goals, and plan.
- What XERF is
- A non-invasive radiofrequency skin tightening system made by Cynosure Lutronic.
- How it works
- Controlled heat beneath the surface contracts tissue and prompts new collagen.
- Who it suits
- Adults with mild to moderate loose skin on the face, jawline, and neck.
What XERF Treats and What It Doesn't
XERF is built for one job: tightening loose skin on the face and neck. When a concern comes from lost volume, fat, muscle movement, or surface texture, another treatment usually works better, and our Portland and Vancouver team will tell you which one before you book.
Concerns XERF Treats Best
XERF works on laxity, meaning skin that has loosened, rather than skin that has lost volume or developed surface damage.
- Loose, sagging skinEarly to moderate laxity across the face, jawline, and neck.
- Cheek and mid-face laxitySoftening contour where the cheeks begin to settle lower.
- Jowls and a blurred jawlineOverhang that breaks the clean line from ear to chin.
- Crepey neck and under-chin skinThin, loose skin across the front of the neck and below the jaw.
- Mild brow heavinessSubtle upper-face laxity that makes the brow sit lower.
- Loose skin after weight lossCommon after GLP-1 weight loss and often planned alongside treatment for facial volume loss after GLP-1 weight loss.
When Another Treatment Fits Better
These concerns come from volume, fat, muscle movement, or surface texture rather than loose skin. Most of these treatments are injectables offered at our Portland clinic on SE Stark St, while Potenza is performed in Vancouver.
Explore options by concern in our photo treatment planner, or book a XERF consultation in Vancouver, WA and we will match your skin to the right plan.
How XERF Compares to Ultherapy, Thermage & Thread Lifts
Portland patients looking for a non-surgical facelift alternative often weigh XERF against Ultherapy, Thermage, Morpheus8, and thread lifts. XERF and Thermage both use monopolar radiofrequency, Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound, and RF microneedling and thread lifts work beneath the skin through needles or threads. XERF combines two radiofrequency frequencies in one needle-free treatment, the main technical difference between it and Thermage.
XERFMultifrequency RF
- Approach
- Monopolar RF that combines two frequencies
- Needles
- None
- Used for
- Loose skin on the face, jawline, and neck
- Made by
- Cynosure Lutronic
- At Cosmetiq
- Vancouver, WA clinic
Ultherapy1Focused ultrasound
- Approach
- Focused ultrasound guided by live imaging
- Needles
- None
- Used for
- Brow, under-chin, neck, and chest lines
- Made by
- Merz Aesthetics
- At Cosmetiq
- Not offered
Thermage FLX2Monopolar RF
- Approach
- Single-frequency RF with surface cooling
- Needles
- None
- Used for
- Facial wrinkles, including the eye area
- Made by
- Solta Medical
- At Cosmetiq
- Not offered
RF MicroneedlingPotenza, Morpheus8
- Approach
- RF delivered through fine needles
- Needles
- Yes, fine needles
- Used for
- Texture, acne scars, and pores
- Made by
- Cynosure Lutronic and InMode
- At Cosmetiq
- Potenza at our Vancouver clinic
PDO Thread Lift3Absorbable threads
- Approach
- Absorbable threads placed under the skin
- Needles
- Yes, threads placed by needle or cannula
- Used for
- Early jowls and mild sagging
- Made by
- Varies by thread brand
- At Cosmetiq
- PDO thread lifts at Cosmetiq
Sources1Microfocused ultrasound clinical review2Thermage FLX FDA 510(k) summary3American Society of Plastic Surgeons
What about a surgical facelift? For significant sagging, a surgical facelift repositions deeper tissue, which energy devices and thread lifts are not designed to do. Patients weighing that step often start with our guide to non-surgical facelift options in Portland.
XERF vs Ultherapy cost comparisonDevice details come from manufacturer disclosures and published sources. Treatment choice depends on your skin, anatomy, and goals, which we assess at your consultation.
Reserve Your XERF ConsultationWhat to Expect From XERF for Portland & Vancouver Patients
A XERF appointment at Cosmetiq Medicine moves through four stages: your consultation, the treatment, aftercare, and the months while collagen rebuilds. Knowing each step helps Portland and Vancouver patients arrive at our Vancouver, WA clinic ready with the right questions and a realistic plan.
-
Your XERF Consultation
Your provider reviews your goals, medical history, and the areas you want to tighten, then confirms whether XERF fits. Tell us if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, or have had recent procedures in the area, since each can change the plan.
-
During the Treatment
Your provider guides a cooled handpiece across each treatment area. The manufacturer's patient brochure describes the sensation as warm, with integrated cryogen cooling protecting the skin's surface, and notes that a session usually takes about 45 minutes depending on the areas treated.
-
XERF Aftercare
Before you leave, your provider walks you through aftercare and answers questions about the days ahead. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen protects treated skin while collagen rebuilds, and the American Academy of Dermatology sunscreen guide covers what to look for.
-
As Your Results Develop
Tightening develops gradually as collagen remodels, so results are judged over the months after treatment rather than on the day. Your provider will advise whether a follow-up session makes sense, and you can browse outcomes in our med spa before and after gallery.
Change across two XERF treatments
These photos follow two patients before and after a first and a second XERF treatment, which is why your provider reassesses your skin between sessions instead of setting a fixed number up front. Browse more XERF before and after comparisons by treatment area.
Individual results vary.
Serving Portland Patients at Our Vancouver Clinic
Device treatments at our Vancouver clinic are led by Tabi, our advanced laser and facial aesthetician. Meet the Cosmetiq Medicine team or read Cosmetiq Medicine patient reviews before you book.
We welcome XERF patients from
- Portland
- Beaverton
- Hillsboro
- Tigard
- Happy Valley
- Camas
- Ridgefield
- Battle Ground
Your consultation confirms candidacy before any treatment begins.
Book Your Vancouver VisitXERF Cost in Portland & Vancouver and Ways to Pay
Published XERF pricing nationally runs roughly $1,500 to $3,000 per session, and your total depends on the areas treated and your plan. See our full XERF pricing breakdown for how sessions and results factor in.
See Current XERF Specials- Glow and Elite membershipsPlans from $100 a month lock in lower rates on treatments, including XERF.
- CareCredit financingUse the CareCredit healthcare credit card for XERF and spread the cost monthly.
- Allē and Cherry payment plansBuy now, pay later with Cherry and earn Allē rewards from Allergan Aesthetics.
- Med spa price listCurrent prices for injectables, lasers, and skin treatments at both clinics.
Pricing is confirmed at your consultation. Compare every payment option before you book.
XERF Questions From Portland & Vancouver Patients
Straight answers to what Portland and Vancouver patients ask most about XERF skin tightening, from cost and FDA clearance to comfort, results, and aftercare, based on how XERF is offered at our Vancouver, WA clinic.Updated September 2026
Cost and location
What Portland patients ask before booking.
How much does XERF cost in Portland and Vancouver?
XERF is $1,800 per treatment at Cosmetiq Medicine, performed at our Vancouver, WA clinic for Portland and Vancouver patients. Published pricing nationally runs roughly $1,500 to $3,000 per session, and your total depends on the areas treated and your plan. The section above lists XERF cost and payment options, including memberships and financing.
Why is XERF priced higher than some skin treatments?
XERF is priced per treatment session for a device-based procedure, while many injectables are priced per unit or syringe, so a single XERF visit can look larger up front. Membership pricing, CareCredit, and Cherry payment plans spread the cost, and our guide to membership savings explains how plans work.
Is XERF available in Portland, Oregon?
Yes. Portland patients receive XERF at Cosmetiq Medicine's Vancouver, WA clinic at 12000 SE Mill Plain Blvd, where all of our energy-based device treatments are performed. Our Portland clinic on SE Stark St offers injectables that can be planned alongside XERF. See our Vancouver, WA clinic details before your visit.
Do you offer XERF in Vancouver, WA?
Yes. XERF is performed at Cosmetiq Medicine's Vancouver, WA clinic at 12000 SE Mill Plain Blvd, the same clinic that handles our Potenza RF microneedling and laser treatments. Patients from Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, and across Clark County can book XERF online or call (503) 572-2675.
Technology and safety
Clearance, lasers, skin types, and who should wait.
Is XERF FDA approved?
XERF is FDA-cleared rather than FDA-approved. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the XERF system through the 510(k) process in August 2025, the pathway most energy-based aesthetic devices follow, as explained on the FDA premarket notification page. Approval is a separate process for higher-risk devices.
Is XERF a laser?
No. XERF is not a laser. It is a monopolar radiofrequency device that heats tissue with radiofrequency energy instead of light, so it does not rely on skin pigment the way lasers do. XERF is performed at our Vancouver, WA clinic alongside our laser and facial treatments.
Is XERF safe for all skin types?
The manufacturer describes XERF as appropriate for all skin types, because radiofrequency heats tissue without targeting skin pigment the way many lasers do. Your provider still reviews your skin, history, and goals at your consultation before recommending XERF for you.
Who should not get XERF?
Radiofrequency treatments like XERF are generally avoided during pregnancy and for people with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device. Treatment may also be postponed for an active skin infection or a recent procedure in the area, so share your full medical history at your XERF consultation.
Treatment and results
Comfort, sessions, longevity, and aftercare.
Does XERF hurt?
Cynosure Lutronic, the maker of XERF, describes the treatment as warm and comfortable, with integrated cryogen cooling protecting the skin's surface during each pulse. Comfort varies from person to person, so tell your provider how the heat feels as your session progresses.
How many XERF sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number of XERF sessions. The manufacturer notes that the number depends on your skin condition and goals, so your provider builds a plan at your consultation and reassesses as your results develop.
How long do XERF results last?
XERF results are not permanent, because skin keeps aging after any treatment. Tightening develops as collagen remodels, and how long it holds depends on your age, skin quality, sun exposure, and lifestyle, which is why your provider discusses maintenance timing instead of promising a fixed duration.
What is XERF aftercare?
XERF aftercare is reviewed with you before you leave the clinic. Protect treated skin with daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, follow any product or activity guidance your provider gives you, and contact our Vancouver team if anything feels unusual after your session.
Combining and comparing
How XERF fits with other treatments.
Can XERF be combined with Botox or fillers?
Yes. XERF is often planned alongside injectables because each treats a different sign of aging: XERF tightens loose skin, Botox and Dysport soften expression lines, and fillers or Sculptra restore lost volume. Our Juvéderm, Sculptra, and Radiesse guide explains the volume options available in Portland and Vancouver.
Does XERF help loose skin after GLP-1 weight loss?
XERF can address loose skin that follows significant GLP-1 weight loss, while hollowing from lost facial fat usually needs volume restoration such as Sculptra or filler. Your provider assesses which concern is driving the change, and our article on GLP-1 facial volume loss explained covers both.
Is XERF a non-surgical facelift?
XERF is often described as a non-surgical facelift alternative, but it tightens loose skin rather than lifting and repositioning deeper tissue the way a surgical facelift does. It suits mild to moderate laxity, while significant sagging is better evaluated for surgery, so your provider will tell you honestly which group you fall into.
Is XERF better than Ultherapy?
Neither is better for everyone. XERF uses multifrequency radiofrequency with no needles, while Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound with real-time imaging and is FDA-cleared for lifting the brow, under-chin, and neck. Cosmetiq Medicine offers XERF, and our XERF comparison chart shows how both differ from Thermage and thread lifts.
Still deciding?
Bring your questions to a consultation, or send our team a XERF question and we will reply before you book.
Start Your XERF Plan