Where Sofwave and newer technologies like XERF fit into the evidence landscape.
By Resurrect Skin M.D. | March 2026
Patients are asking about newer skin tightening technologies, including XERF. Here’s what we found.
At Resurrect Skin M.D. we believe our patients deserve more than buzz. Before we recommend any treatment, we ask the boring-but-important questions: What is this device actually cleared to do by the FDA? Is there peer-reviewed data? And is there real evidence it works?
Comparison Across Skin Tightening Technologies
Sofwave By the Number
Sources: Wat et al., Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2022 (collagen/elastin data); Sofwave Medical clinical data on file (treatment count and safety record); 40+ publications available at sofwave.com/clinical-evidence.
The FDA Clearance Gap — And Why It Matters
FDA clearances are not marketing claims. They reflect the evidence the agency has reviewed for each intended use.
- Sofwave holds seven aesthetic FDA clearances: fine lines and wrinkles, brow lift, submental lift, neck laxity, facial lifting, arm laxity, and cellulite.
- XERF’s clearance is for electrocoagulation and hemostasis.
As with any device, it’s important to understand the specific indication a technology is cleared for and how that aligns with its intended use.
Where’s the Published Evidence?
Sofwave has over 40 peer-reviewed publications. Critically, it has biopsy data — meaning researchers took actual tissue samples and measured changes under a microscope. The findings: a 68% increase in collagen and a 33% increase in elastin after a single treatment (Wat et al., Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2022).
As of March 2026, there is limited publicly available peer-reviewed data at this time for XERF. That doesn’t mean it cannot produce results, rather those results have not yet been demonstrated through independent, peer-reviewed research.
How Heat Plays a Part
Think of it like cooking: to actually change the structure of something, you need to reach the right temperature. Too low and nothing really transforms — you just get a surface effect that fades. Current research suggests collagen remodeling occurs around 65°C.
Sofwave is designed to hit that sweet spot — 65–70°C — with built-in cooling to keep the skin’s surface protected. Most patients describe the sensation as warm but very manageable.
XERF, and some other RF technologies may only operate at 40–60°C.
Keeping Fat Where It Belongs
Across skin tightening technologies, preserving facial fat is an important consideration.
Sofwave’s record here is clean: zero reported fat atrophy events across more than 667,000 treatments. That’s a meaningful benchmark.
Newer technologies are still building long-term safety data. Patients should ask how a treatment interacts with both their skin and underlying tissue when deciding whether it’s right for them.
Sofwave at Resurrect Skin M.D.
At Resurrect Skin M.D., we offer Sofwave because the evidence standard meets the bar we’ve set for every treatment we provide.
Treatments are typically completed in 30 – 45 minutes. Most patients return to their normal routine immediately, and results build gradually over 3 to 6 months as new collagen forms.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Consult a qualified provider to determine which treatments are appropriate for your specific needs.
