XERF or Radiesse for a softer jawline?
Medically reviewed by
Marie Jin, ACNP-BC, board certified acute care nurse practitioner
Last reviewed: September 2026
It depends on why the jawline looks soft. If the skin along the jaw is loosening, XERF fits better: multifrequency radiofrequency tightens the skin with no needles, and the result builds gradually over 2 to 6 months as collagen rebuilds. If the jaw itself lacks definition or angle, Radiesse fits better: a calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) biostimulator adds structure along the bone right away and keeps stimulating collagen afterward. Many faces over 40 need some of both.
Skin versus structure
The two treatments change different tissues. XERF works on laxity, the loss of firmness in the skin itself. Its radiofrequency energy reaches the dermis, the support layer beneath it, and the SMAS, prompting existing collagen to contract and new collagen to form. There are no needles, little to no downtime, and the change is gradual: some firming early, with the meaningful tightening arriving over the following months.
Radiesse works on contour. The CaHA microspheres are placed along the mandible, the jaw bone, where they add an edge immediately and then integrate as your own collagen builds around them, with results lasting up to 24 months. That makes it the tool for a flat or undefined jaw angle or a short, receding chin. Expect some swelling or bruising for a few days, and note that unlike a hyaluronic acid filler, CaHA cannot be dissolved, so conservative placement matters.
A quick way to tell which you need
Look at your jawline in a mirror, then gently lift the skin in front of your ears toward your temples. If the jawline sharpens a lot, loose skin is doing most of the blurring, and that points to XERF. If it barely changes, the jaw is short on structure, and that points to Radiesse. If both happen, you are like most people in their 40s, and a combined plan makes sense. A consultation confirms it in person, but this gives you a sense of what to expect.
Why combining works, and what neither will do
Structure and skin work together: Radiesse gives the jaw an edge to show, and XERF tightens the skin draped over it. A common order is to build structure first and then tighten, though the sequence depends on the face. Marie often starts XERF clients with a collagen-building phase before the device treatment so the skin responds better, and the consultation covers whether that preparation makes sense for you.
The honest limit is degree. Neither treatment replaces a surgical face or neck lift once skin is heavy and hanging. XERF is designed for mild to moderate laxity and early jowling, and Radiesse is not for loose skin at all. Both are gradual, natural-looking adjustments rather than dramatic transformations, which is the point of the practice's Korean approach to aesthetics.
Common questions
Which lasts longer?
Both results fade gradually with age. Radiesse along the jaw holds its shape for up to 24 months and is often touched up around the yearly mark. XERF results are maintained with periodic treatments once the initial series has built collagen over 2 to 6 months.
Is XERF painful?
It is known for being comfortable. Integrated cooling protects the surface while the energy works below it, and most people describe warmth rather than pain. There are no needles and no downtime.
Can Radiesse be dissolved?
Not the way hyaluronic acid filler can. CaHA has no reversing enzyme, which is why careful placement along the bone and conservative amounts matter, and why Marie maps the jaw before treating it.
For a closer look at each option on its own, read our guides to Radiesse jawline contouring and what XERF does and does not do, or chin fat versus loose skin if fullness under the chin is part of the picture. At Marie Jé Aesthetics in Sunnyvale, XERF Lifting and Radiesse Facial Contouring are assessed and performed by Marie Jin, ACNP-BC, board certified acute care nurse practitioner and founder, with medical oversight from Connie Gomez Orem, MD, at our studio on El Camino Real serving Silicon Valley and the South Bay. Consultations start by looking at structure and skin separately, then deciding what each needs. A consultation is the best way to confirm what’s right for you.
This is general information, not medical advice; candidacy is determined by a provider at consultation.