Key summary: Onda lifting uses 2.45GHz microwaves and the 7mm tip to warm the fat layer under the chin together with the supporting structure beneath it, and it is often used to refine not only a double chin but also a blurred facial line. Initially, sessions are usually divided into 2 to 3 at intervals of about a month to build a foundation, and results are known to last about 6 months to 1 year, though this varies from person to person depending on skin thickness and lifestyle.
Three questions that always come up right before payment
Many people now think of Onda lifting when it comes to a double chin. Yet the questions people hesitate over right before paying for a booking are almost always the same: how many sessions are needed, how long results last after one session, and whether it works on the whole facial line rather than just under the chin.
As a well-known treatment, expectations are high, but materials that calmly explain these three points are rarer than you might think. This article covers how far the effect of Onda lifting reaches, why the treatment cycle is divided, and how its duration is judged.
Why Onda lifting is used for a double chin, the 7mm tip
Onda is a device that uses 2.45GHz microwave energy, and the tip mainly used for double chins in Onda lifting is the 7mm tip. This number refers not to the size of the tip but to the depth within the skin where the energy mainly stays.
The 7mm tip sends heat centered on the subcutaneous fat layer and is designed so that the heat continues to the supporting structure that holds up the face from below. A double chin usually forms as fat accumulates under the chin and the structure supporting that fat loosens, so the ability to warm the fat layer and the deeper layer beneath it at once is why Onda lifting is widely used for double chins.
Does it work beyond the chin, on the whole facial line?
The process of deep layers firming up after receiving heat does not happen only under the chin. The same principle applies to heaviness that spreads along the jawline and to contours that have sunk downward such as the deep cheek, so Onda lifting is often used to refine the blurred side line of the face together with the double chin.
Placed side by side with other lifting devices, the differences in energy and target depth become visible.
| Device | Energy | Main target layer |
|---|---|---|
| Ultherapy | Ultrasound focused on a point | Deep fascia layer (SMAS) |
| Thermage | Radiofrequency | Even tightening across the dermis |
| Tensera | Ultrasound-based | Thermal coagulation points in the fascia and dermis |
| Onda | Microwave, 7mm tip | Fat layer and deep supporting structure |
Rather than one device being better, it is best understood that the depth the energy reaches differs.
Is it fine to treat the whole face strongly because it is good for a double chin?
A common misunderstanding arises here: the request to treat the whole face equally strongly because it is good for a double chin. Just because the 7mm tip suits the area under the chin does not mean areas where volume should be kept, such as the cheeks, need the same intensity.
So for people with little cheek fat and thin skin, I do not treat the whole face at one intensity. I first suggest narrowing the range to heavy areas such as the double chin and jawline and saving energy on the cheeks.
Conversely, for people whose under-chin area is heavy and whose facial line also looks spread out, the strengths of the 7mm tip can often be used best.
Treatment cycle, divided rather than strong at once
I also very often get the question of whether it can be done strongly in one go. I fully understand that visiting the clinic several times is a hassle, but I often compare this to personal training. When you start exercising, your body develops better when you split workouts over several days a week than when you cram five hours into one day.
Skin that receives heat stimulation produces new collagen while it recovers, and this recovery takes time. Putting in excessive energy at once may only increase burdens such as redness and heat.
So in the early stage of Onda lifting, we often guide people to receive several sessions at regular intervals to build a foundation of elasticity. The treatment cycle is often 2 to 3 sessions at intervals of about a month.
Duration is a story that comes after building the foundation
Right after treatment, some people feel tightness as collagen contracts, and the real change tends to rise gradually from a few weeks later as regeneration progresses. The duration of Onda lifting is generally known to be about 6 months to 1 year.
However, this duration assumes that the foundation was built well through the first few sessions. Judging after only one session can make the duration feel shorter than expected, much like how, once you have built basic fitness, your condition holds even if you exercise only occasionally.
On top of this, duration varies from person to person depending on skin thickness, lifestyle and the pace of aging. So rather than setting a uniform interval of every few months, we measure skin condition with the AI skin analyzer Muse and decide the timing of the next treatment together by comparing changes at the next visit.
Keeping records as numbers also greatly reduces the confusion of wondering whether the effect has faded or whether it is just a feeling.
In short, the effect of Onda lifting is tightening and refining of the double chin and facial line, the treatment cycle is divided in the early stage, and the basic flow for duration is to build a solid foundation and then continue with maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
I worry about my double chin, but I am afraid my face will lose volume too
It is good to set different treatment directions for areas with fat, such as under the chin, and areas where volume should be kept, such as the cheeks. Dividing energy by area can reduce this worry.
Can I go to work the day after Onda lifting?
Mild heat or redness may appear after treatment, but in most cases it is known not to burden daily life much. However, it is best to avoid saunas, alcohol and intense exercise on the day of treatment.
The effect seems to have faded. Can I get treated again right away?
The skin needs time to recover and produce collagen, so it is too early to decide on retreatment based only on how it feels. We recommend comparing with the previously measured condition before deciding the next timing.
Visiting and consultation
O.N Clinic is located near Gangnam Station, so it is easy to reach by subway.
If you are considering Onda lifting, noting whether only the double chin bothers you, whether the whole facial line feels blurred, and whether you have little cheek fat makes the consultation on range and treatment cycle easier. If you have any questions, feel free to ask via Chat with us now.
Written by Dr. Oh Seung-min (Chief Director of O.N Clinic, graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Academic Committee Chair of the Korean Society for Laser, Skin and Hair). His full background is available on the Medical Team page. First published 2026-10-12, last reviewed 2026-11-10
This article is for general information only. Suitable treatment and results may vary depending on each person's condition.