Two treatments, two different jobs
Ultherapy and ONDA are often mentioned in the same conversation because both are non-surgical lifting treatments that use heat. However, they target different layers and are usually chosen for different reasons. Understanding the difference helps you ask the right questions at your consultation.
- Ultherapy
uses focused ultrasound to deliver energy to precise depths, including the deeper supportive layer of the face. It is mainly discussed for lifting and tightening sagging tissue.
- ONDA
uses microwave energy that mainly heats the fat layer and surrounding tissue, with surface cooling. It is mainly discussed for contouring areas of soft fullness and for general skin tightening.
Put simply, Ultherapy is often chosen when the concern is sagging, while ONDA is often chosen when the concern is shape and fullness. Many faces have both concerns, which is why doctors sometimes discuss combining approaches.
How Ultherapy works
Ultherapy Prime includes real-time ultrasound imaging, allowing the practitioner to see the skin layers while treating. Energy is delivered in lines of tiny heated points at selected depths. The body responds by remodelling collagen, and the effect usually develops gradually over a few months.
Ultherapy is commonly discussed for:
- Jowls and lower face laxity.
Where the jawline has softened due to sagging.
- Brow and upper face.
Mild heaviness around the eyebrows in suitable patients.
- Neck and under-chin skin.
Looseness in the area below the jaw.
Learn more on our Ultherapy Prime page.
How ONDA works
ONDA delivers microwave energy measured in joules. Because it focuses on the fat layer, it is often used where a little extra fullness blurs the contour of the face, for example under the chin or along the lower cheeks. It also produces heat that may contribute to tightening.
ONDA is commonly discussed for:
- Double chin.
Mild fullness under the chin.
- Lower cheek fullness.
Soft volume that makes the face look wider at the bottom.
- Early laxity.
As part of a general tightening plan.
See our ONDA lifting page
for more detail.
Side-by-side considerations
When deciding between the two, think about these points with your doctor:
- Main concern.
Sagging tissue points toward ultrasound lifting; soft fullness points toward contouring. Many people have a mix.
- Face shape.
In a slim face, reducing fat could make the face look more hollow, so ONDA may not be the right choice.
- Sensation.
Ultherapy is often described as a deep aching or prickling over bony areas. ONDA is usually described as warmth or heat.
- Timeline.
Both tend to show gradual changes over weeks to months rather than instant results.
- Budget.
The two treatments are priced very differently, as shown below.
Prices at Daybeau Clinic Seomyeon
At Daybeau Clinic Seomyeon, the listed first-visit prices are:
- Ultherapy Prime 300 shots.
KRW 990,000.
- ONDA 20,000J.
KRW 89,000.
Prices are in KRW, VAT excluded (10% VAT added at payment), checked October 2026, and first-visit prices apply once per new patient per item. If you are considering both, ask the doctor whether combining them on one day or spacing them out is more suitable. The full list is on our price list.
Side effects and realistic expectations
If you are visiting Busan for a short stay, timing matters. Plan your session early in the trip so any tenderness or swelling has time to settle before you fly. Take photos in consistent lighting before treatment, because both Ultherapy and ONDA tend to produce gradual change that is easy to overlook in the mirror. Keep a note of the shot count or joules used so any future doctor can plan maintenance from that information.
Both treatments are non-invasive with little downtime for most people. Common reactions include temporary redness, swelling and tenderness. With ultrasound lifting, some people experience bruising or temporary numbness along the jaw. With microwave and heat treatments, uncommon heat-related reactions can occur. Results vary and are not guaranteed, and neither treatment replaces surgery for significant sagging. Your doctor decides whether either is suitable after examining you.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a double chin?
It depends on the cause. Fullness from fat is often discussed with ONDA or fat-dissolving injections, while loose skin may need a lifting approach. A doctor can assess which applies.
Can I have Ultherapy and ONDA together?
Combining them is sometimes done in Korea, but suitability and timing depend on your skin and are decided at consultation.
Which one has more downtime?
Both usually allow a return to normal activities the same day, with temporary redness or tenderness.
Which lasts longer?
Longevity depends on your skin, age, lifestyle and the treatment plan. Be cautious of promises of a specific duration.
Not sure whether you need lifting, contouring or both? Book a consultation
or message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates.
