XERF is a monopolar radiofrequency device that delivers two frequencies, 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz, at once. 300 shots suit a focus on specific areas, while 600 shots give room when planning lifting and tightening across the whole face together. Choosing 600 shots does not mean the effect lasts exactly twice as long.
Contents
What is the biggest difference between 300 and 600 XERF shots?
The difference lies less in the strength of the effect than in the area that can be treated and the room for distributing energy.
| Item | 300 shots | 600 shots |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Focus on one area or one goal | Whole face, lifting + tightening together |
| Typical areas | Jawline, deep cheeks, around the nasolabial folds | Cheeks, jawline, facial outline, forehead, around the eyes |
| Best suited when | Loss of elasticity in a specific area is the main concern | Loss of elasticity across the whole face is the concern |
So rather than "600 shots is the better treatment," it is more accurate to say if the area and goals to manage are wide, there is a reason to choose 600 shots.
Related readingHow XERF is used around the eyes and on the facial contour is covered in "XERF lifting: can it help with sagging around the eyes and the facial contour?" (Korean).
Why does the XERF effect change over time?
Radiofrequency delivers heat to tissue to induce collagen contraction and remodeling. So there is immediate tightening right after treatment and, separately, tissue change over the following weeks to months. In a prospective multicenter study of 39 patients who had two sessions of dual-frequency monopolar radiofrequency like XERF, the proportion rated improved by clinicians was 84.6% at day 30 and 92.3% at day 90 — it actually rose over time.[1]
In other words, the change you see in the mirror on the day is hard to treat as the final result. When talking about longevity, you also need to look at what area and depth the energy was delivered to at the time of treatment.
In a retrospective study of 16 patients followed for 1 and 3 months after a single XERF session, 3D imaging measured a gradual lift of the eyebrows and upper eyelids, and side effects were mild and temporary. However, the researchers noted that larger controlled studies are needed.[2]
Why does longevity differ even with the same number of shots?
- Treatment area: concentrating 300 shots on one area can make that area last a long time, while spreading 600 shots thinly across the whole face can leave each area short of energy.
- Depth and goal: tightening the skin (shallow layer) and lifting a sagging contour (deep layer) target different tissue, so the distribution needed differs.
- Skin and fat condition: when skin thickness, fat distribution and the degree of sagging differ, the same number of shots gives different results.
So the formula "600 shots = twice as long" does not hold.
What determines how long it lasts?
Skin elasticity, the degree of sagging and the amount of facial fat at the time of treatment have the first influence. Aging continues after treatment, and UV exposure, smoking, lack of sleep and rapid weight changes hasten the loss of elasticity. The most accurate approach is to decide the timing of the next treatment after checking the effect of the previous one and your current skin condition.
In a randomized controlled study of monopolar radiofrequency, improvement in the nasolabial fold area of the lower face was measured at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. That the effect is observed over several months is worth keeping in mind when judging how long it lasts.[3]
Common myths and facts — XERF shot count
| What many people think… | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| "600 shots last twice as long as 300." | Longevity depends on area, depth and energy distribution together with skin condition. It is not proportional to the number of shots. |
| "300 shots is a weak treatment." | Clearly setting the target area and concentrating on it can deliver enough energy to that area. |
| "The result on the day is the final result." | Collagen remodeling continues for weeks to months. Wait at least several weeks before judging. |
| "More shots are always better." | With little facial fat, excessive energy can actually be a disadvantage, so fine-tuned settings are needed. |
What four things should you check when choosing XERF?
- Which areas are treated
- At what depth the energy is delivered
- How energy and shots are distributed by area
- Which result (jawline improvement, elasticity, overall tightening) is the goal
A good XERF treatment is determined not by "how many shots did I get?" but by "how were those shots used on my face?"
Related readingHow lifting is divided from Botox and fillers according to the cause of wrinkles is covered in "Deep wrinkles: Botox, fillers or lifting — which treatment is right?".
In XERF consultations, before the number of shots I ask "Which area bothers you most?" If the jawline alone is the concern, covering that area thoroughly with 300 shots often brings higher satisfaction than spreading 600 shots thinly over the whole face. The number of shots is the result of the plan, not the starting point.
XERF 300 shots suit a focus on specific areas, and 600 shots suit lifting and tightening across the whole face together. Longevity is determined not by the number of shots but by area, depth, energy distribution and your skin condition.
🔬 Supporting research
Peer-reviewed international journal articles that support this article. Click a title to open the PubMed abstract.
- Cureus 2026 — prospective multicenter study, 39 patients Clinical Outcomes Following Dual-Frequency Noninvasive Monopolar Radiofrequency Treatment for Facial Laxity and Lower Face Lifting: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Key finding: improvement rate 84.6% at day 30 → 92.3% at day 90 — effects appear over time In text [1] · PMID 41930066 · DOI
- Lasers in medical science 2026 — retrospective study, 16 patients · 3 months Objective and subjective retrospective evaluation of XERF, a novel single-shot dual-frequency non-invasive monopolar radiofrequency. Key finding: gradual lift of eyebrows and upper eyelids — preliminary results, more research needed In text [2] · PMID 42611100 · DOI
🎬 Watch — Dr. Park Seong-Soo · BongBong Plastic Surgery
Related videos from BongBong Plastic Surgery's official channel and Dr. Park Seong-Soo's channel. Videos are in Korean and play on YouTube.
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0:52 The secret of radiofrequency regenerative tightening without surgical incisions (Korean) Dr. Park's channel · 2026.03.29 -
4:57 Facial muscle exercises that worked even for a doctor (the difference between lifting and tightening) (Korean) Dr. Park's channel · 2024.04.18
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is 600 shots of XERF always more effective than 300?
No. If the goal is improving a specific area, a thorough plan can be made with 300 shots; to manage elasticity and contour across the whole face, 600 shots may be appropriate.
Will 600 shots last more than a year?
Longevity cannot be determined by the number of shots alone. Radiofrequency effects are observed over several months, but actual longevity varies with the treated area, skin condition and degree of aging.
Does the effect appear right after treatment?
You may feel tightening right afterward, but changes in skin elasticity continue afterward, so it is best not to judge the final effect by the result on the day.
Can people with little facial fat get it?
Yes. However, with little fat, the area and energy settings need to be planned more finely to avoid excessive fat reduction.
How often should I get it?
There is no fixed interval. It is often planned at intervals of several months to a year after checking the previous effect and your current skin condition.
📖 References
Click a [number] in the text to jump to its source, and ↩ to return. Only papers whose title, journal and year were verified on PubMed are listed.
- ↩ Weiss RA, Wang J, DiBernardo B, Bhatia AC. Clinical Outcomes Following Dual-Frequency Noninvasive Monopolar Radiofrequency Treatment for Facial Laxity and Lower Face Lifting: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Cureus. 2026;18(3):e104546.PMID 41930066 · DOI— dual-frequency monopolar RF, 39-patient multicenter prospective study — improvement rate 84.6% at day 30 → 92.3% at day 90
- ↩ Erlich G, Dahan E, Wolf Y. Objective and subjective retrospective evaluation of XERF, a novel single-shot dual-frequency non-invasive monopolar radiofrequency. Lasers Med Sci. 2026;41(1).PMID 42611100 · DOI— retrospective study of 16 patients after one XERF session — eyebrow and upper-eyelid lift, only mild temporary side effects
- ↩ Wang Z, Li L, Zhang X, Li Z, Yan Y. Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Monopolar Radiofrequency Device for Skin Tightening: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. Lasers Surg Med. 2025;57(3):259-264.PMID 39957006 · DOI— randomized controlled study of monopolar RF — improvement in the nasolabial fold area maintained at 1, 3 and 6 months
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