Onda is a DEKA device that sends microwave energy into the fat layer beneath the skin while the handpiece cools the surface, and onda lifting in Seoul uses it on the lower face or on body areas. At ENTER Plastic Surgery a face session takes about 30–45 minutes with no anesthesia, and the price depends on the joules delivered.
Is it for you?
Who Onda lifting suits
Onda works on soft tissue that sits under the skin. When a jawline looks heavy because of a padded layer along the chin and jowl area, or a waistline has a pocket of fat that does not change with diet, heat aimed at that layer is the logic of the treatment. The skin above it is treated indirectly, as the fibers that run through the fat contract with heat.
That same logic sets its limits. Skin that hangs in folds, a deep neck band or a jowl that drops below the jaw is a structural change in the deeper layers, and energy devices do not reposition tissue the way surgery does. A facelift is the conversation in that case. Onda is also not a way to lose body weight; it treats a defined area, and the rest of the body is unchanged.
Usually a good fit
- Soft fullness along the jawline or under the chin
- Mild lower-face laxity without heavy folds
- A defined pocket of body fat that diet has not shifted
- Preferring no needles, incisions or anesthesia
- Able to return for sessions 2–4 weeks apart
We may suggest waiting
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- A pacemaker or metal implant close to the area
- Loose, hanging skin where a facelift is discussed
- Infection, an open wound or a rash on the area
- Hoping to lose weight across the whole body
Before & after
Onda lifting before and after
BEFORE
AFTERHow it works
How Onda microwave lifting works
Microwave energy heats tissue by making water molecules oscillate. Fat holds less water than skin and muscle, so the energy can be directed into the fat layer while a cooling system in the handpiece protects the surface. The heat is aimed at two things at once: damaging part of the fat cells in that layer, which the body then clears over the following weeks, and contracting the connective fibers that hold the layer together, which is where any firming effect comes from.
The amount of energy is the main variable, and it is measured in joules. A small area such as under the chin needs less energy than the full lower face, and a body area needs a separate, larger dose. Because the clinic prices Onda by joules, the energy plan made before treatment also sets the cost.
The published evidence is thin and mostly about the body. An international advisory board on this microwave platform set out recommended settings and patient selection, and noted that long-term efficacy and safety have not yet been assessed (Hoffmann, 2024). Small studies without control groups have reported reduced abdominal circumference after three sessions in 19 people (Bonan, 2023) and less localized fat in a Latin American group (Ruiz-Rosas, 2023). Research on Onda for facial lifting specifically is limited.
Area check and energy plan
At consultationThe treated area is examined for fat thickness and skin laxity, and the joule dose (from 60,000 J for a small face area upward) is chosen to match it.
Skin preparation
Makeup and oils are cleaned off and the area is marked. No numbing cream or injection is applied, because none is used for this treatment.
Microwave passes with surface cooling
About 30–45 minutes for a face sessionThe handpiece moves across the marked zones in passes, delivering microwave energy into the fat layer while its cooling keeps the skin surface from overheating.
Skin check and next-step planning
Redness and warmth are checked before you leave. If a course is planned, the next session is booked for 2–4 weeks later.
Energy-based lifting options on the ENTER Plastic Surgery menu
| Point of comparison | Onda | Ultherapy | Thermage FLX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy type | Microwave | Micro-focused ultrasound | Monopolar radiofrequency |
| Layer it is aimed at | Fat layer under the skin | Deep layer down to the SMAS | Dermis (the skin itself) |
| Session time | 30–45 minutes | 30–60 minutes, by shot count | 45–90 minutes, by tip |
| Numbing | None | Numbing cream | Numbing cream |
| Usual course | Face 1–3 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart | 1 session, repeated at 12–18 months | 1 session, repeated at 12 months |
| How long it lasts (clinic guidance) | 6–12 months | 12–18 months | 12–18 months |
Times, courses and durations are the clinic's own guidance; response differs between people.
Your doctor
Chief Director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“Natural, yet clearly visible change.”Eyelid and facelift surgery at ENTER is planned and performed by Dr. Jang himself.
- NowChief Director, ENTER Plastic Surgery
- TrainingPlastic surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- FormerChief Director, Jang Plastic Surgery
- FormerDirector, Secret Plastic Surgery
- MemberKSPRS · KSAPS · ISAPS · ESOPRS · ASPS
At a glance
Onda lifting at a glance
| Procedure time | About 30–45 minutes per face session |
|---|---|
| Anesthesia | None used |
| Downtime | Redness, warmth or throbbing for about 1 week |
| Recommended sessions | Face 1–3, body 3–5; 2–4 weeks apart |
| How long results last | About 6–12 months |
| Earliest flight home | Same day |
Prices
Onda lifting prices by energy dose
Each Onda line on the menu is a single session at a fixed energy dose. The four face lines step up from 60,000 J to 200,000 J, so a chin-only plan sits at the lower end and a full lower face with jawline sits higher. The body line is one session of 600,000 J for body areas. All amounts are excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment), and no anesthesia fee is added.
A course multiplies the per-session line: the clinic's guidance is one to three sessions for the face and three to five for the body. Ask for the dose and the number of sessions to be written into your quote, so the total is clear before you plan return trips.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Recovery
After an Onda session
The treated skin can look pink and feel warm or throb. You can go back to your plans; skip saunas and very hot baths while the warmth lasts.
Redness, warmth and throbbing for about a week are part of normal healing. Do not treat blisters, hard lumps or worsening pain yourself; contact the clinic straight away.
Once the skin has settled, about a week after the session, Botox or filler can be scheduled if you plan them as well.
If you are on a course, the next session falls 2–4 weeks after the last one, while the body is still clearing the heated fat.
Safety
Risks and limits of Onda lifting
Onda is non-invasive, but it delivers heat into tissue, and the risks follow from that heat. A review of non-invasive body contouring devices found little high-level evidence for their effects (Nassab, 2015), so the size of any change is uncertain.
- Redness, warmth and throbbing in the treated skin for about a week.
- Tenderness, swelling or a firm feeling in the treated fat while it heals.
- Burns or blisters if heat builds up in one spot.
- An uneven contour if fat reduces more in one zone than the next.
- A smaller visible change than hoped, especially on the face.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- The Evidence Behind Noninvasive Body Contouring DevicesAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2015 · Nassab R · doi:10.1093/asj/sju063
Review of non-invasive body contouring devices: high-level evidence supporting their effect is scarce.
- Microwave-Energy-Based Device for the Treatment of Cellulite and Localized Adiposity: Recommendations of the “Onda Coolwaves” International Advisory BoardBioengineering · 2024 · Hoffmann K et al. · doi:10.3390/bioengineering11121249
International advisory board recommendations on settings, patient selection and protocols for this microwave platform; long-term efficacy and safety were not yet assessed.
- Microwave System: A Novel Treatment for Localized Adiposity Reduction in a Latin American PopulationJournal of Nutrition and Metabolism · 2023 · Ruiz-Rosas A et al. · doi:10.1155/2023/9998499
Uncontrolled cohort in a Latin American population reporting reduced localized fat and cellulite after microwave treatment; very low certainty.
- Ergebnisse zur Reduzierung von subkutanem Fettgewebe mithilfe eines neuartigen, auf Mikrowellentechnologie basierenden Body-Contouring-SystemsDie Dermatologie · 2023 · Bonan P · doi:10.1007/s00105-023-05200-y
Uncontrolled study of 19 people: three abdominal sessions with a 2.45 GHz microwave system reduced waist circumference without severe pain.
FAQ
Onda lifting FAQ
When can I book Botox or filler after an Onda session?
Wait about one week. The clinic's guidance is to schedule Botox, filler or other treatments once the skin has calmed down, roughly a week after Onda. Until then, the treated area can stay red, warm or throbbing, which is a normal part of healing rather than a problem.
Can I fly the same day I have Onda treatment?
Yes. There is no wound, dressing or stitch, and the clinic's guidance is that flying home is possible on the treatment day. What a short trip cannot hold is a full course, because repeat sessions sit 2–4 weeks apart and need separate visits to Seoul.
Is Onda done by a doctor at ENTER Plastic Surgery?
Onda is a non-surgical treatment given at ENTER Plastic Surgery, a plastic surgery clinic led by Dr. Jang Jin-woo, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon. This page does not name one practitioner for every Onda session, so ask in your first message who will treat you.
Are Onda lifting prices in Seoul shown with VAT?
No. Every Onda line is listed excluding VAT, and 10% VAT is added when you pay. The face doses start at ₩650,000 + VAT for 60,000 J, and the body session is ₩6,000,000 + VAT. There is no separate numbing fee.
How do I plan an Onda course from outside Korea?
Send the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp with the areas you are thinking about and when you can be in Seoul. We will get back to you as soon as possible. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic, which helps when you discuss the energy plan in person.
What are the deposit and cancellation terms for Onda?
They are agreed for each booking and are not published here. Ask for them in writing before paying, and check how a moved session is handled if you are booking more than one visit, since the spacing between sessions shapes your travel dates.
How is Onda different from Ultherapy?
They use different energy and aim at different depths. Onda delivers microwave energy into the fat layer under the skin, with no numbing used. Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound aimed deeper, down to the SMAS, under numbing cream, and is planned as a single session repeated after 12–18 months.
Why does the body Onda line cost more than the face lines?
The body line delivers 600,000 J in one session, three times the largest face dose of 200,000 J, because body areas are larger and the fat layer is thicker. The price on each line follows the energy delivered, so the dose in your plan decides which line applies.
Is Onda a weight-loss treatment?
No. Onda treats a defined area of fat, such as under the chin or around the abdomen, and does not change body weight. A review of non-invasive body contouring devices found little high-level evidence for their effect, so treat it as a contouring option for a stable weight.
Does Onda tighten loose skin on the face?
It is aimed at mild laxity. Heat contracts the fibers running through the fat layer, which can firm the area slightly, but skin that hangs in folds needs repositioning that energy cannot do. Studies on Onda for the face specifically are limited, so expectations should stay modest.
Can I have Onda if I have a metal implant or a pacemaker?
Tell the clinic before booking. Microwave energy heats tissue, and a pacemaker or other electronic implant, or metal close to the treated area, is a reason not to treat that area. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are also reasons to wait.
Google reviews
Reviews on Google Maps
Great experience! Dr. is very sweet and kind. He listened to what I wanted to fix and correct. He explained everything very well. Wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to sell anything extra. This isn’t a clinic that comes out on instagram, which I…
Jennifer LyuA month agoI came to Enter Plastic Surgery on a friend’s recommendation for under-eye fat repositioning. I was pretty nervous going in, but the doctor took the time to explain what would work for my under-eyes, what the procedure involved, and what…
Michael2 months agoThe staff are incredibly friendly, and the consultation was very thorough. I was very worried since it was my first procedure, but the director explained the aftercare in detail, so I felt completely confident trusting them!!
ROOHEUI SHIN (RHS)2 months ago · Translated by Google