ONDA (Coolwaves)
온다 · also: Onda lifting, microwave lifting, 페이스 온다, 바디 온다
The only aesthetic device that uses microwaves. Because roughly 80% of the energy is absorbed by fat rather than skin, it reduces a small fat pocket and tightens the skin over it at the same time — and it's comfortable enough that most clinics run it without numbing cream.
A short questionnaire and dose mapping — usually done the same day, right before treatment.
How it works
A 2.45 GHz microwave field heats fat cells to about 42–45°C through a surface-cooled applicator. Fat is far more absorbent at this frequency than the skin above it, so the damage lands where it's wanted: treated fat cells die off and clear through the lymphatic system over 8–12 weeks, while the warmth at the dermis-fat boundary drives fibroblasts to lay down new collagen.
Microwave · acts at 4–15 mm · deepest layer: Fat layer
Subcutaneous fat. Volume, contour, and the target of fat-reducing treatments.
Scale extended to 15 mm — this treatment goes deeper than the facial-skin reference. Depths are indicative and vary by device, cartridge, body area and individual.
Microwave
Microwaves are absorbed preferentially by fat rather than skin, heating the fat layer while the surface stays cooled.
People choose this for
Products & devices used
Not all "ONDA (Coolwaves)" is the same — the specific brand or machine changes the price and the feel. Common options in Korea:
The only aesthetic device using 2.45 GHz microwaves. Roughly 80% of the energy is absorbed by fat rather than skin, so it reduces fat and tightens in one pass — and it's comfortable enough to run without anaesthetic.
What it does
- ✓Slimmer jawline or double chin
- ✓Fat reduction without suction
- ✓Firmer skin
- ✓Comfortable — usually no anaesthetic
Good for you if
- •A soft double chin
- •Small stubborn fat pockets
- •People who found HIFU or RF too painful
- •Body areas as well as face
Aftercare
- ✓You can go straight back to normal activity — there's nothing visible to hide.
- ✓Skip saunas, jjimjilbang and hot baths for 24 hours while the tissue is still warm.
- ✓Drink normally and keep moving; the treated fat clears through the lymphatic system.
Not suitable if
- !Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- !Metal implants, a pacemaker or any implanted electronic device in the treatment area.
- !Active infection or inflamed skin where the applicator would pass.
- !Not a weight-loss treatment — it targets small localised pockets, not overall body fat.
FAQ
How is this different from HIFU or RF?
HIFU and RF aim their energy at skin and the deeper support layer. ONDA's frequency is preferentially absorbed by fat, so it's the better pick when the problem is a soft pocket of fat rather than loose skin alone. It's also the most comfortable of the three by a wide margin.
Will I see anything the same day?
You'll see mild tightening, but the fat reduction is a gradual clearance — realistically 8–12 weeks. If you're on a short trip, treat the visible result as something that arrives after you fly home.
Does it need anaesthetic?
Usually not. Most people describe a deep warmth that stays tolerable, which is the main reason clinics offer it to patients who disliked HIFU.
Price range by care tier
Market ranges for reference — actual quotes depend on the clinic, doctor and area.
Before you compare quotes: what this price is actually per
- RF and microwave devices are sold by total energy in kilojoules. More kJ means more coverage and a stronger result — a 10 kJ and a 60 kJ quote are not the same treatment.
Sold by total energy in kilojoules, and the spread is enormous: a 10 kJ session and a 60 kJ session are six times apart in both price and coverage. 10 kJ is a spot treatment; a full face or a body area generally needs 30–60 kJ. Body pricing runs slightly above face for the same energy.
Won prices quoted above are from a dated reference price list for one Seoul clinic chain (2026-07-24), used to show the shape of pricing — not a national average, and not a quote. Prices include 10% VAT: the foreign-patient cosmetic VAT refund ended on 31 December 2025.
How it compares
ONDA (Coolwaves) beside the other Lifting & Tightening options travellers usually weigh against it.
| Comparison factor | ONDA (Coolwaves)온다 | Ulthera울쎄라 | Shurink Universe슈링크 유니버스 | Thermage FLX써마지 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | Microwaves that heat fat, not skin | The gold-standard ultrasound lift | The value-tier lifting favorite | Radiofrequency skin tightening |
| Depth reached | Fat layer · 4–15 mm | SMAS · 1.5–4.5 mm | SMAS · 1.5–4.5 mm | Dermis · 1–3 mm |
| How it works | Microwave | Focused ultrasound | Focused ultrasound | Monopolar radiofrequency |
| Downtime | Noneleast downtime | 0–1 days | 0–1 days | 0–1 days |
| Pain | ||||
| Visits for full result | 1–3 visits | 1 visit | 1–3 visits | 1 visit |
| Results last | Fat loss is lasting; tightening 12+ months | 12–18 months | 6–12 months | 12–24 months |
| Trip fit | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days |
| Priced per | per kJ of energy | per shot | per shot | per shot |
| From | ₩250k–600k | ₩600k–1.2M | ₩150k–400k | ₩700k–1.3M |
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