Xtherma is a monopolar radiofrequency (RF) treatment at HALO Beverly Hills known for pairing deep-heating energy with simultaneous cooling — and while it’s often discussed specifically for arm tightening, it’s actually a versatile option for the face, neck, and body. Here’s what Xtherma is, what the underlying research shows, and how it compares to the other RF treatments we offer.
What Is Xtherma?
Xtherma is a monopolar radiofrequency treatment that pairs deep-heating RF energy with simultaneous cryogen cooling in the same pulse, allowing effective energy delivery while protecting the skin’s surface. Xtherma delivers RF energy at 6.78 MHz to heat the deep dermis, triggering immediate collagen contraction and longer-term collagen remodeling, while a cryogen cooling system fires in the same pulse to protect the epidermis and allow higher, more effective treatment temperatures to be used comfortably and safely. The result is stimulated collagen remodeling for firmer, tighter skin — with no incisions, no needles, and no downtime.
While Xtherma is frequently highlighted for tightening loose skin on the arms, it treats a much broader range of areas. At HALO Beverly Hills, Xtherma is used for facial laxity and jowls, neck and décolletage tightening, and body areas including the arms and abdomen with mild-to-moderate laxity. Because it’s a monopolar treatment capable of reaching deeper tissue, it’s a flexible option whether your main concern is early jowling and facial firmness or loose skin on the arms or midsection.
What does the research show?
Xtherma is one of several monopolar radiofrequency platforms built around a well-established treatment mechanism. Published histologic research on monopolar RF — including a 2020 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology — has documented measurable, biopsy-confirmed increases in dermal collagen density following a single treatment session, with continued improvement over 6 months. This class of technology has an established evidence base for stimulating the skin’s own collagen-remodeling process, though results vary by treatment area, skin type, and degree of laxity.
Because cooling technology plays a central role in how comfortably and safely monopolar RF energy can be delivered, it’s also worth noting recent comparative research in this area: a 2025 study in Annals of Dermatology compared different cooling methods used alongside monopolar radiofrequency — including continuous water cooling and cryogen spray cooling, the type of cooling Xtherma uses — and found that the choice of cooling method can meaningfully affect patient comfort and treatment safety during facial RF treatment. Ongoing research like this continues to refine how monopolar RF treatments such as Xtherma are delivered.
How does Xtherma compare to Density, XERF, and OligioX?
HALO Beverly Hills offers several RF-based skin tightening treatments, and each is suited to slightly different goals. Density combines monopolar and bipolar energy delivered simultaneously to reach both deep and superficial layers of skin at once. XERF takes a different dual-frequency approach, delivering two frequencies sequentially within a single pulse to address both surface skin quality and deeper structural support — you can read more in our post, What Is XERF? OligioX is also a monopolar RF treatment, similar in mechanism to Xtherma, but offers two customizable delivery modes — a deeper mode and a gentler surface mode — so your provider can fine-tune treatment to your skin.
Xtherma’s strength is its straightforward, well-established monopolar RF-plus-cooling mechanism, which makes it a reliable, comfortable option across a wide range of areas — from the face and neck to the arms and abdomen. If you’re specifically interested in tightening looser skin on the arms, our earlier post, Arm Tightening with Radiofrequency (RF): Xtherma & OligioX, goes into more detail on that specific use case.
What to expect at HALO Beverly Hills
During your consultation, Dr. Donald B. Yoo and our team will assess your skin and goals to determine whether Xtherma — on its own or combined with a treatment like Density or Ultherapy Prime — is the right fit for your face, neck, or body concerns. A typical Xtherma session takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the treatment area, with a warming sensation offset by the device’s simultaneous cooling. Most patients experience only mild, temporary redness that resolves within a day or two, allowing an immediate return to normal activities. Some patients notice initial firming right after treatment from immediate collagen contraction, with the most significant improvements appearing gradually over 2 to 3 months as new collagen forms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Xtherma only for the arms? No — while it’s often discussed for arm tightening, Xtherma also treats facial laxity and jowls, the neck and décolletage, and other body areas with mild-to-moderate laxity.
Is Xtherma painful? Most patients feel a warming sensation balanced by the device’s simultaneous cooling; discomfort is generally mild.
How many sessions do I need? Many patients see improvement from a single session, though your provider may recommend a series depending on the degree of laxity being treated and the area addressed.