Quick answer: Ultherapy lifts the lower face by tightening the deep SMAS layer with focused ultrasound. ONDA uses microwave energy to reduce fat under the chin and along the jaw while tightening the skin. Choose Ultherapy for sagging, ONDA for a full or fatty lower face, or combine both for a slimmer, lifted jawline.
Key takeaways
- Ultherapy works on sagging; ONDA works mainly on fat.
- ONDA uses microwave energy (Coolwaves) that targets fat while cooling the skin.
- Ultherapy reaches the SMAS layer that holds up the face.
- ONDA is popular in Korea for a double chin and a heavy jawline.
- Combining both is common for a slimmer and lifted lower face.
What is lower face contouring?
Lower face contouring means shaping the area from the cheeks to the chin so the jawline looks clearer and the face looks slimmer. A soft or wide lower face can come from three things: sagging tissue, extra fat, or large chewing muscles. Each needs a different treatment, which is why doctors in Korea often combine lifting, fat reduction and jaw Botox.
What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a micro-focused ultrasound treatment by Merz Aesthetics. It uses a live ultrasound image so the doctor can place small points of heat at 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm. The deepest points tighten the SMAS, the layer that holds the face up. New collagen forms over two to three months, lifting jowls and sharpening the jawline. Results usually last about a year.
What is ONDA?
ONDA is a device made by DEKA, an Italian company. It uses microwave energy at 2.45 GHz, called Coolwaves, to heat and break down fat cells under the skin while a cooling system protects the surface. The body then clears the damaged fat cells over the following weeks. The heat also tightens the skin. ONDA was first used for the body, and a smaller face handpiece is now popular in Korea for the double chin and jawline.
How do Ultherapy and ONDA compare?
- Energy: Ultherapy focused ultrasound; ONDA microwaves.
- Main target: Ultherapy the SMAS and skin; ONDA fat under the skin.
- Best for: Ultherapy for sagging jowls; ONDA for a double chin and a full jawline.
- Sessions: Ultherapy usually once a year; ONDA often 1 to 3 sessions a few weeks apart.
- Comfort: Ultherapy can feel sharp over bone; ONDA feels warm, with cooling.
- Results: both develop over one to three months.
Which is better for sagging?
If the lower face has dropped and the jowls look heavier than before, Ultherapy is usually the better choice. Removing fat alone will not lift loose tissue, and in some cases can make sagging look worse. Lifting the deep layer gives a cleaner jawline in people with mild to moderate sagging.
Which is better for a double chin or a full lower face?
If your skin is still firm but you have soft fat under the chin or along the jaw, ONDA is often the better choice. It reduces fat without needles or surgery, and the heat tightens the skin over the treated area. Many younger visitors choose ONDA to slim the face before a big event.
Can you combine Ultherapy and ONDA?
Yes. Because they work on different problems, they can complement each other well. ONDA reduces fat, and Ultherapy lifts and tightens the support layer, so the jawline looks both slimmer and lifted. Doctors may also add jaw Botox if a strong masseter muscle makes the face look wide. The order and timing are planned after a face check.
What is the downtime?
Downtime is short for both. After ONDA, you may have redness, mild swelling and tenderness under the chin for a few days. After Ultherapy, swelling or tenderness along the jaw can last a few days, and small bruises are possible. Most visitors return to normal plans the same day.
Is it safe?
Both treatments are widely used and safe when done by experienced doctors. Rare risks include burns, firm lumps under the skin that usually soften with time, or temporary numbness. Tell your doctor about metal implants, pregnancy or recent fillers in the area.
How to choose between them
Korea treated about 2.01 million foreign patients in 2025, and around 63% came for dermatology, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Jawline and V-line treatments are among the most popular requests. The main question is whether your lower face looks wide because of sagging, fat or muscle. A doctor can tell you in a short assessment and plan the right mix.
Frequently asked questions
Does ONDA work on the face?
Yes. A smaller handpiece is used for the double chin, jawline and lower cheeks.
How many ONDA sessions do I need?
Many people need 1 to 3 sessions, a few weeks apart, depending on the amount of fat.
Will fat come back after ONDA?
Treated fat cells are removed, but remaining fat cells can grow with weight gain, so a stable weight helps.
Can I have both on one trip?
Yes. Many visitors have both on the same day, as downtime is short.
Sources
- Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea – 2025 foreign patient statistics (press release, 2026).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration – 510(k) premarket notification database (Ulthera System).
- DEKA – ONDA Coolwaves technology information.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Results vary between individuals. Please consult a qualified physician before any treatment.
