XERF for the body: why Karisma keeps to the face and neck

Which areas does the XERF evidence cover?

Every XERF paper indexed on PubMed, plus the maker's registered trial, as of October 29, 2026.

A PubMed search for "XERF" on October 29, 2026 returned three XERF papers, all on the face. The March 2026 study is indexed under its device description instead of the brand name.

What does the FDA clearance allow on the body?

XERF's clearance, 510(k) K251327, covers "dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis." It names no body area, so using it on the stomach or arms is not outside the label. It also is not a clearance for tightening any area. Cynosure's own fine print says the words skin tightening describe tightening that comes from soft tissue coagulation.

The hardware gives a hint about scale. The FDA summary lists 12 tip types, and the largest one measured is 27.6 by 17.6 mm, about 4.9 square centimeters. A stomach is many times that, so a body area takes many passes. In the face and neck study, one full session averaged 569 pulses. Nobody has published how many it takes on a stomach.

What happens under the skin of a body area

Body skin sits over more fat than most of the face. A 2025 study by Cynosure Lutronic researchers modeled XERF's two frequencies in skin with different fat thicknesses, then tested them on pig skin. The 2 MHz setting spread heat broader and deeper into the fat layer, the 6.78 MHz setting heated more along the fibrous bands, and the pig tissue showed collagen remodeling with no sign of fat cells dying.

Two cautions. Pig skin is not a human stomach, and the authors work for the maker. And no fat cell death means XERF is not a fat reduction treatment. If your concern is a pocket of fat rather than loose skin, read non-surgical body contouring instead.

How are other radiofrequency devices used on the stomach, arms and thighs?

XERF is new to the body, but radiofrequency on the body is not. Solta Medical lists the abdomen, thighs, above the knees and under the bra line as body areas for Thermage FLX, the device XERF was compared with in its FDA file. A patient leaflet from Changi General Hospital in Singapore lists the stomach, underarms, buttocks and inner and outer thighs for radiofrequency in general, and says several sessions are needed and results are less predictable than surgery.

That is useful context, not proof for XERF. Thermage has its own data. XERF's two published human studies, 39 people (Cureus, March 2026) and 16 women (Lasers in Medical Science, August 2026), treated the face, chin and neck only, so its body results will need their own studies.

How do you judge a XERF body before and after photo?

Bodies change with breath, posture and lunch. A fair pair of photos holds all of that still.

• Same stance and same breath. A relaxed stomach and a held-in stomach are two different photos.
• Same light, angle and distance. Side light deepens every crease. Front light flattens them.
• Same clothing line. A waistband in a different place changes how skin folds.
• Weight stated. Two pounds lost can look like a treatment result.
• Dates and session count. Results are judged at 30 and 90 days in the XERF studies. Ask which point the photo shows.
• A paid model? Cynosure's own XERF page marks one photo subject as compensated. Look for that line on any photo you see.

Karisma has no consented XERF body photos to show yet, so this page shows none.

Why does Karisma use XERF on the face and neck only?

Kay keeps XERF to the areas the published studies cover. The table above shows the gap: face, chin and neck have human data, the body has none yet. Until that changes, she would rather say no to a stomach session than sell one on hope.

For the body, the studio has other tools with their own, narrower claims. LPG Endermologie is FDA-cleared to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite on the thighs, hips and stomach. It does not tighten loose skin. For skin that folds, Kay will point you to a plastic surgeon.

What a face and neck plan looks like at Karisma

1. 1Consultation, $150Kay looks at your face, jawline and neck, asks about your health, and tells you whether XERF fits. The fee is credited to your first session.
2. 2A series, not one visitMost clients need 2 to 3 sessions, Kay says, at $1,500 each or $3,000 for two. Change starts subtle and builds over the following months. Results vary.
3. 3Photos you can trustKay photographs before and after each session, and again 3 months after the second. Same light and angle, dated, the same rules as in the list above.