Both lift without needles. They do it to different tissue, on different timescales, and they are frequently better together than apart.
Both treatments lift without needles, injectables or downtime, which is why they get compared. The difference is what they act on.
XERF delivers dual-frequency monopolar radiofrequency, 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz at once, into shallow, middle and deep tissue layers. It heats tissue in a controlled way so that it contracts and then produces new collagen. It is a structural skin and tissue treatment.
EmFace synchronises radiofrequency with HIFES muscle stimulation. The radiofrequency addresses the skin; the HIFES contracts the facial muscles underneath it, toning the layer that holds the face up. It is closer to a workout for the face.
| XERF | EmFace | |
|---|---|---|
| What it treats | Skin and the tissue beneath it, at three depths | Skin and the facial muscles underneath |
| How it works | Dual-frequency monopolar RF, 6.78 MHz + 2 MHz | Synchronised RF + HIFES muscle stimulation |
| Number of visits | Normally one treatment | A course of four to six |
| Time per visit | A single appointment | Approximately 20 minutes |
| When you see it | Some lift the same day, building over months | Progressive across the course |
| Needles | None | None |
| Downtime | None, back to work the same day | None, back to work immediately |
| Discomfort | Minimal, cooling built into the tip | None |
| Price | From £2,000 for full face | From £245 |
If you cannot tell which description fits you, that is genuinely what the consultation is for. Facial ageing is usually a mix of laxity, muscle tone and volume, and the mix is different in every face.
They act on different tissue, so they do not overlap and they do not compete. XERF restores structural firmness; EmFace tones the muscle layer that supports it. Treating both addresses more of what actually causes a face to look tired than either does alone.
EmFace can be added to a XERF appointment at a reduced price when booked together, and a combined package is available. Current pricing for both the add-on and the package is on the XERF cost page and the EmFace page.
XERF uses dual-frequency monopolar radiofrequency to tighten skin and the tissue beneath it, normally in a single treatment. EmFace combines radiofrequency with HIFES muscle stimulation to work on the skin and the facial muscles underneath, across a course of four to six sessions.
Neither is better in general. XERF suits loss of firmness and patients who want the fewest appointments; EmFace suits tone and definition and patients who prefer shorter, more frequent sessions. Which is right for you is decided at consultation.
Yes. They act on different tissue so they complement rather than duplicate each other, and EmFace can be added to a XERF appointment at a reduced price when booked together.
XERF normally shows some lift on the day of treatment, because tissue contracts as it is heated, with more building over the following months. EmFace builds progressively across its course of four to six sessions.
No. Neither treatment uses needles or injectables, and neither requires numbing or has surgical downtime.
Book a consultation and get an honest assessment. If it is not the right treatment for what you want to change, we will tell you.
Choose a time that suits you. Your £100 consultation is fully redeemable against your treatment.
Not loading? Open the booking page ›