Short version: ONDA is a body contouring and skin tightening device that uses microwaves rather than ultrasound or radiofrequency. In Seoul it is priced anywhere from around ₩100,000 for a small session to over ₩1,500,000 for a large one, depending on how the clinic measures the dose. This guide explains how it differs from Ultherapy and Thermage, how to read a quote, and which Seoul clinics currently offer it.
What is ONDA Coolwaves?
ONDA is made by DEKA, an Italian medical device company. It works with microwaves at 2.45 GHz, marketed under the name Coolwaves.
The frequency is the point. Microwaves at this frequency are absorbed more readily by tissue with a high fat content, so the energy concentrates in fat cells instead of heating every layer equally. According to the manufacturer, roughly 80 percent of the energy is directed at the fat layer and about 20 percent reaches the dermis, which is where the secondary tightening effect comes from. A cooling system in the handpiece protects the surface of the skin while this happens.
ONDA is FDA 510(k)-cleared as a non-invasive device for body contouring and for the reduction of localised fat and cellulite, with associated improvement in skin laxity. DEKA supplies two applicators, described as deep and shallow, for different tissue depths.
How is ONDA different from Ultherapy and Thermage?
All three are often grouped together as “lifting” in Korean clinics, but they use different energy and target different tissue. They are not interchangeable.
| ONDA | Ultherapy | Thermage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Microwave (2.45 GHz) | Focused ultrasound | Radiofrequency |
| Main target | Fat layer | Deeper support layers | Dermis |
| Mainly used for | Localised fat, cellulite, mild tightening | Lifting the face and neck | Overall skin tightening |
| Typical areas | Body, sometimes face | Face, neck, décolletage | Face and body |
In practice a clinic will usually recommend one over another depending on whether your main concern is a sagging jawline, loose skin texture, or a pocket of fat that has not responded to diet. If a consultation recommends the same single device for every concern you raise, that is worth questioning.
What does a session involve?
Treatment is done with a handpiece moved across the target area. Settings differ between body and facial work because the applicators reach different depths. Most people describe the sensation as deep warmth rather than pain, and clinics in Seoul generally perform it without anaesthesia.
There is usually no downtime. Results are not immediate: changes from fat-targeting treatments develop over weeks as the body clears the treated cells, so clinics normally plan a course rather than a single visit.
How many sessions you need depends on the area and your starting point. Ask the clinic to put the recommended number of sessions in writing before you commit, and ask what the plan is if results fall short of what was discussed.
Who is ONDA usually suggested for?
Because the energy concentrates in fat, ONDA is generally discussed for areas where a pocket of fat is part of the problem rather than skin quality alone. Common examples are the abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, upper arms, and the area under the chin.
It is less likely to be the first suggestion if your concern is fine lines, surface texture, or pigmentation, since those sit in the upper layers of the skin and are usually addressed with lasers or injectables instead. Significant sagging, similarly, is often outside what any non-surgical device can meaningfully change.
Whether it suits you is a clinical judgement, and a reasonable consultation will say so plainly. If a clinic recommends ONDA without examining the area or asking what you have already tried, that is a reason to get a second opinion before paying for a course.
What does ONDA cost in Seoul?
Most Seoul clinics do not publish prices for this treatment, which makes it hard to compare before you arrive. One that does is Gangnam VS Line Clinic, and the way it prices ONDA is worth understanding: it quotes by energy delivered, in joules — not by shots.
| Energy delivered | Price (per session) |
|---|---|
| 10,000 J (10 kJ) | ₩100,000 |
| 60,000 J (60 kJ) | ₩480,000 |
| 80,000 J (80 kJ) | ₩650,000 |
| 100,000 J (100 kJ) | ₩850,000 |
| 120,000 J (120 kJ) | ₩1,000,000 |
| 160,000 J (160 kJ) | ₩1,300,000 |
| 200,000 J (200 kJ) | ₩1,500,000 |
Prices as published on the clinic’s own price page, checked August 2026. The clinic states these figures are for reference and vary with individual condition, treatment scope and materials, and that whether VAT is included or charged separately can also vary. A consultation with the director is listed at ₩55,000.
This is a useful reference point precisely because the unit is energy. If another clinic quotes you a number of shots, the two figures are not comparable without asking what each one delivers.
Why ONDA quotes are hard to compare
This is the part most visitors get caught by. Korean clinics do not all quote ONDA the same way.
- Some quote by shot or line count — a number of shots for a named area.
- Others quote by energy delivered — measured in kilojoules, for example 60 kJ or 120 kJ for a given area.
These are not the same unit, and a lower headline price can simply mean a smaller dose. Before comparing two clinics, ask each one the same three questions:
- What dose is included, in whichever unit you use?
- Is this a single-session price or a course price?
- Is VAT included, and is the consultation charged separately? Since the VAT refund for foreign patients ended in 2026, this now decides what you actually pay.
Getting those three answers in writing is more useful than any price comparison you can do from abroad.
How Seoul compares with Singapore and Malaysia
ONDA is widely offered across Asia, and Seoul is not the only place people travel for it. Published ranges from clinics and aesthetic guides in nearby markets give a rough sense of where Korea sits.
| Market | Typical published range, per session | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | ₩300,000–500,000 commonly cited; one Gangnam clinic lists ₩100,000–1,500,000 by shot count | $210–1,050 |
| Singapore | S$300–600 | $220–440 |
| Malaysia | RM 1,200–2,000 | $255–425 |
Two caveats before you draw conclusions from this. First, the ranges are not measuring the same thing: Korean clinics tend to quote by shot count or energy delivered, while clinics elsewhere more often quote a flat price per area. A cheap Seoul number may be a small dose, and an expensive one may cover a much larger treatment. Second, sessions are usually sold as a course of four to six in most of these markets, so a single-session figure rarely reflects the real outlay.
Published prices for the UK and US are harder to find, since clinics in those markets often quote only at consultation. If you are comparing from either country, ask your local clinic for a per-area price and the number of sessions before you look at Korean figures at all — otherwise you are comparing two different things.
How ONDA compares with cryolipolysis and injectables
If you have researched non-surgical fat reduction before, you have probably come across cryolipolysis, sold under brand names such as CoolSculpting, which uses controlled cooling rather than heat. Both approaches aim at fat cells without surgery, but the experience differs: cryolipolysis typically involves a suction applicator held in place for a set period, while ONDA is delivered by moving a handpiece over the area and is described as warm rather than cold.
Fat-dissolving injections are a third route, and they work differently again — a substance is injected into the fat layer rather than energy being applied from outside. Korean clinics often list several of these options side by side, which is why consultations here can feel like a menu rather than a recommendation.
There is no universally better option among them. What matters is which one a clinician recommends for your specific area after examining it, and whether they can explain why they ruled the others out. That explanation is the useful part of a consultation, and it is reasonable to ask for it directly.
What to ask before you pay
Bring these questions to consultation and write down the answers. They are the ones that most often go unasked and most often cause disappointment later.
- What dose is included in this price, in shots or kilojoules, and how does that compare with what you would normally use for this area?
- How many sessions are you recommending, and what would you expect after the first one alone?
- Is the quoted figure per session or for the whole course, and is VAT included?
- Who performs the treatment — a doctor, or a nurse or therapist under supervision?
- What happens if I see no change? Is there a review appointment, and is it charged?
- If I am flying home in a few days, is there anything I should avoid?
A clinic that answers all six without hesitation is usually a clinic worth booking with, whatever the price turns out to be.
How we chose the clinics below
This is not a ranking. We looked for clinics that state their address, hours and treatment list openly, are reachable by subway, and give a visitor some way to ask questions before arriving. Everything below is taken from each clinic’s own website and can change — confirm directly before booking.
Gangnam VS Line Clinic — Yeoksam (Best for published pricing)
Teheran-ro 107, Medi Tower 3F, Gangnam-gu. The clinic lists ONDA alongside Ultherapy Prime, SofWave, thread lifting and Rejuran Healer.
Two things stand out for a visitor. It publishes individual treatment prices on its website, which is unusual in this area and lets you budget before you fly. And the site is available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Thai, so you can read the treatment pages in your own language before contacting them.
Hours run to 20:30 on weekdays and 17:00 on Saturday, later than most clinics nearby, which helps if you are fitting an appointment around a work trip.
Best for: knowing the price before you walk in.
THE HEAL Dermatology, Dongdaemun (Best for a dermatologist-led session outside Gangnam)
Wangsan-ro 36-gil 6, Hillstate Cheongnyangni The First 2F, Dongdaemun-gu. This is a dermatology clinic rather than a general aesthetic clinic, and it describes ONDA in technical detail — microwave energy delivered through handpieces working at 3 mm and 7 mm depths, performed without anaesthesia.
It is worth knowing about if you are staying in the north-east of the city rather than around Gangnam. Cheongnyangni is a major transfer station, so it is straightforward to reach from most of Seoul. The site has English and Japanese versions.
Prices are not published, so ask for a written quote at consultation. Hours are 10:00 to 20:00 on Monday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 to 19:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10:00 to 16:00 on Saturday, with a lunch break from 13:00 to 14:00 on weekdays.
Best for: staying outside Gangnam, or preferring a dermatology-first clinic.
Also opening this year
Chungdam The Cell (청담더셀의원) — Dosan-daero 412, 3F and 8F, Gangnam-gu. The clinic is scheduled to open around 21 September 2026. According to information provided by the clinic, its menu will include ONDA lifting and Thermage FLX, with Ultherapy Prime added later in the year, alongside intravenous and regenerative treatments.
Dosan-daero runs through the Cheongdam and Apgujeong area, which is where most of Seoul’s higher-end clinics are concentrated. The nearest subway access is Apgujeong Rodeo or Cheongdam, depending on which end of the road you approach from.
The clinic had not opened at the time of writing, so we have not been able to see the facility, confirm its consultation languages, or verify pricing. We will update this section once it opens. If you are planning a trip for later in the year, it is worth contacting them directly to confirm what is available by then.
Frequently asked questions
Is ONDA the same as HIFU?
No. HIFU devices use focused ultrasound. ONDA uses microwaves. They reach different tissue and are used for different concerns, so a clinic offering one is not necessarily offering an equivalent to the other.
Does ONDA work on the face?
DEKA supplies a shallow applicator and some clinics use ONDA on the face. Whether it suits your face depends on how much fat is involved in the area you want treated, which is a question for consultation rather than something to decide in advance.
How soon will I see a change?
Not immediately. Changes from fat-targeting treatments develop over weeks, and clinics usually plan several sessions rather than one.
Is there downtime?
Generally none. Warmth or mild redness can last a short time afterwards, and most people go back to normal activity the same day.
Should I book before I arrive in Korea?
Yes, if your dates are fixed. Evening and Saturday slots fill up in Seoul, and contacting a clinic before you fly also gives you time to get a written quote and confirm what language the consultation will be in.
Is ONDA cheaper in Korea than at home?
Usually, yes — but compare carefully. Because Korean clinics quote by shot count or by energy delivered rather than by “one treatment,” a Seoul price and a price from your own country may not describe the same amount of work. Ask both for the dose, then compare.
Will one session be enough?
Rarely. Clinics generally plan a course, and a single session is more often used to see how you respond than to finish the job. If you only have time for one visit on this trip, say so at consultation so the clinic can tell you honestly whether it is worth starting.
Can I combine ONDA with other treatments on the same trip?
Many clinics offer several devices and will discuss combining them, since ONDA, Ultherapy and Thermage address different layers. Whether combining is sensible for you, and in what order, is a clinical decision — ask the clinic to explain the reasoning rather than accepting a package at face value.
Last updated: 31 July 2026.
This article is general information, not medical advice. We are not medical professionals. ONDA is a medical device procedure that carries risks, and results vary from person to person. Always consult a licensed doctor before deciding on any treatment. Clinic details are taken from each clinic’s official website, or from information the clinic provided, and can change — confirm directly before booking.
Some clinics in this guide have a commercial relationship with our team.
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