When you get a lifting consultation, two names usually come up first: radiofrequency and ultrasound. But if you look at the device list, there is one more name that belongs to neither category. It is Onda Microwave.
ONDA · SKIN COLUMN
Onda Microwaves How do they differ from RF and ultrasound?
SECRET CLINIC
It is accurate to call it the third category. It uses electromagnetic waves in the same band used in microwave ovens. So the way heat is generated is different from the other two categories from the start, and this difference is often explained first in consultations at Secret Clinic.
The three categories generate heat in tissue in different ways
Different ways of generating heat
Three treatment categories · energy sources and heating mechanisms
| Category | Mechanism Description | Energy pattern | Main target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focused ultrasound | Sound waves converge at a focal point | Discrete focal points | Deeper support structures. Heat is concentrated at the focal point |
| Radiofrequency (RF) | Electrical current passes through tissue | Broad tissue volume | Skin firmness and texture. Tissue properties influence energy distribution |
| Microwaves | Electromagnetic waves · 2.45 GHz | Absorption varies by tissue layer | Depends on the handpiece. Tissue dielectric properties influence absorption |
This is a simplified comparison to explain treatment choices; the three categories do not have rigid boundaries.
SECRET CLINIC
Ultrasound lifting focuses sound waves at one point. Heat is generated only at the point where the energy converges, and the surrounding area is affected less. It is a method that reaches deep layers at a point level.
Radiofrequency lifting sends an electric current through the tissue. Heat is produced as the tissue resists the current, and it warms a broad area. However, because the degree to which current passes through tissue differs by tissue, how far the energy travels depends on the tissue’s properties.
Microwave sends electromagnetic waves. Heat is generated as molecules inside the tissue respond to the waves, and the degree of absorption varies depending on the tissue’s dielectric properties. Onda uses the 2.45GHz band, and the reason manufacturers and researchers cite for choosing this frequency is precisely this difference in absorption.
In short, ultrasound is point-based, radiofrequency is area-based, and microwave is closer to layer-based. They do not divide so neatly in every case, but this distinction is helpful when understanding why a different device may be recommended in consultation.
How deep does it reach?
Depth observed in a tissue study
Abdominal tissue examined before abdominoplasty · findings and limitations
| What was observed | Observation Result |
|---|---|
| Epidermis · dermis | No morphological change |
| Subcutaneous fat (Approx. 1.2 – 1.4 cm) | Loss of protein expression in this region |
| Deeper than 2 cm | Expression remained |
Tissue from the treated and comparison sides was removed five days later and examined microscopically. 2.45 GHz device · abdomen
Limitations noted by the authors
- Five participants
- No separate control group
- Five-day observation period
- No imaging-based volume measurement
These findings suggest a direction for research, not the size of a treatment effect.
These are abdominal findings. Facial anatomy is different.
Facial skin is thinner and the underlying structures differ. Depths measured in the abdomen cannot be directly applied to the face.
SECRET CLINIC
There is a tissue study here worth noting. In a study of five people scheduled for abdominoplasty, only one side of the abdomen was treated with Onda five days before surgery, with the opposite side serving as a control, and the removed tissue was examined under a microscope.
The results were as follows. On the treated side, expression of a specific protein disappeared in fat cells at a depth of 1.2~1.4cm, while it remained unchanged in layers deeper than 2cm. The structure of the epidermis and dermis did not differ between the two sides.
That said, the authors themselves noted the limits of how far this study can be trusted. The sample size was five people, there was no separate control group, the observation period was only five days, and the amount was not measured by imaging. It is a study that shows a direction, not one that tells us the size of the effect.
And there is one more important point. This study was conducted on the abdomen. The skin on the face is thinner than on the abdomen, and the structures beneath it are also different. The depth figures measured in the abdomen cannot simply be transferred to the face as they are.
The purpose differs when used on the face and when used on the body
Face and body require different approaches
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Face | Treatment planning depends on the area and the goal. |
| Body | Treatment planning depends on the area and the goal. |
SECRET CLINIC
This is where this category differs from other lifting devices. Onda is used with different handpieces, and according to the manufacturer’s materials, there are separate types for deeper areas, shallower areas, and narrow areas, each with a different target.
So if you simply say, “I got Onda,” that says very little. Using it on a narrow area for facial contouring and using it for a broad body treatment are different procedures. In a Gangnam Onda consultation, asking which handpiece is used and how that area is treated is more practical than simply checking the device name.
At Secret Clinic, we do not decide the device first during consultation. We look at what has changed on the face now, determine the approach that fits, and then choose the device.
The scope of what can be expected is defined by the approved indications
There is something that must be pointed out here.
The intended use described in materials from an overseas manufacturer and the approved use purpose in Korea for this device may not be the same. Medical devices are reviewed separately in each country, and the approval wording is also set differently by country. That is why advertisements that directly copy wording from overseas brochures for imported devices can fall outside the scope of domestic approval.
In this category especially, expressions related to fat can easily become an issue. That is also why we do not discuss Onda’s fat-related effects in this article. Talking about effects without first checking how far they fall within the approved domestic use purpose is putting the cart before the horse.
Checking is not difficult. If you search by product name in the product information section of the MFDS Medical Device E-Complaint Window, the approved intended use is listed as is. If it seems very different from what you heard in consultation, you can ask on the spot.
So in what cases is it considered?
Among the three categories, which one to choose depends on what the main change in the face is now. Many people who visit a dermatology clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station compare the device list first, but the order is the opposite.
· If the main issue is a change where the contour line is dropping, a method that reaches deeper layers is needed
· If the main issue is firmness and texture on the skin surface, a method that warms a broad area is often appropriate
· For narrow, thicker areas such as under the chin, whether there is a handpiece suited to that area is key
· If several concerns are mixed together, it is better to separate the steps rather than try to finish everything with one device
One more thing: having many devices does not necessarily mean a better consultation. A consultation that removes what is not needed right now is harder, and in the end, more useful.
Limitations and risks to know
Because this is a heat-based procedure, pain may accompany treatment. Depending on the area and intensity, it may feel hot or tight, and there is considerable individual variation.
Temporary redness or swelling may appear after the procedure and usually subsides without special treatment. In rare cases, skin damage or blistering caused by heat can occur, so if the sensation during treatment feels different from usual, it is better to speak up right away.
Changes obtained with this category are not permanent either. Aging continues after the procedure, so it is better not to think of it as a one-time treatment that ends everything.
Also, if you are pregnant, have a metal implant or a pacemaker in the treatment area, or have recently had another procedure in the same area, you should first discuss whether to proceed. Secret Clinic also checks these items first in the medical questionnaire.
In summary
Onda Microwave is the third category, neither radiofrequency nor ultrasound. Because the principle of heat generation is different, the target is different too, and depending on the handpiece, it can be used as either a face or body treatment.
However, what can be expected from this device is determined not by overseas materials but by the approved use purpose in Korea. More important than knowing the device name is hearing why that device is being used for which issue on your face.
