Key summary: In Onda, 60,000 and 100,000 joules are not shot counts but differences in the total energy that can be distributed across the face, and a larger total does not make the effect at any one spot proportionally larger. If a double chin is your concern, the tip that sets the depth the energy reaches and how energy is placed between the area under the chin and the cheeks should be decided before choosing the joule count.
Is the bigger number always better?
Side by side, 60,000 and 100,000 joules seem to need no thought. The bigger number seems naturally more effective. But choosing Onda by the joule count alone can lead to a result that falls short of expectations.
This article explains what 60,000 and 100,000 joules actually indicate and, if you are looking into Onda lifting for a double chin, what to check before the number.
Onda joules are a unit of energy, not shots
One point should be made clear first. Onda measures treatment volume not in shots but in joules (J), a unit of energy. 60,000 joules equals 60kJ and 100,000 joules equals 100kJ, and some clinics write it in kJ.
Onda delivers heat with 2.45GHz microwaves, so the total treatment volume is managed in units of energy. The difference between 60,000 and 100,000 joules is therefore the difference in the total energy that can be divided across the face.
A larger total is closer to meaning a wider area can be treated or the same area can be treated with more room. It is about coverage and margin, not a number that directly promises the size of the effect.
Does 100,000 joules mean a proportionally bigger effect?
A common misconception is that 100,000 joules will be proportionally more effective than 60,000. An increase in total energy does not increase the effect reaching one spot at the same rate.
Even with the same 100,000 joules, results can differ greatly depending on whether energy was gathered where needed or spread evenly over the whole face. If energy goes where it is not needed, volume that should be preserved may even be affected.
Many also believe it is better to divide sessions with intervals and give the skin time to recover rather than pouring in a lot of energy at once. Skin that receives heat produces new collagen as it recovers, and this process takes time. That is why I do not set the joule count first; I see it as following after deciding where the energy will go.
Why a double chin starts with tip depth
Onda is a device in which the depth that energy mainly reaches changes with the tip used. So choosing the tip that fits the concern makes a big difference to the result, especially for a double chin.
A double chin usually forms when fat settles under the chin and the structure that supported that fat loosens. Since the cause lies inside the skin rather than on the surface, the energy must reach that depth too, which is why giving energy only to the surface does not resolve the heaviness under the chin well.
Onda's 7mm tip is designed to deliver heat centered on the subcutaneous fat layer and down to the supporting structure beneath it. The 7mm is known to refer not to the size of the tip but to the depth the energy mainly reaches.
Because it can address both the fat under the chin and the structure that supported it, the 7mm tip is mainly used for concerns such as a double chin. The widespread saying that Onda is for double chins can be credited to the depth this tip reaches. Conversely, if only the joule count is increased with a method whose depth does not match, the change you feel may be disappointing no matter how large the number is.
Energy placement decided before the joule count
So before Onda lifting, what I decide is not the number but the placement. First, areas where fat sits and feels heavy, such as under the chin, are set as focus zones and receive ample energy, and then the design extends along the line that looks spread out along the jawline.
Areas where volume should be preserved, such as the front of the cheeks, are spared energy. For people with little cheek fat, I do not recommend treating the whole face at the same intensity.
At the edge of the jawline, where the skin becomes thinner, intensity is lowered by one step so the line continues naturally. If the cheeks look hollow while trying to refine a double chin, it is hard to say the concern was resolved.
Once the placement is designed this way, 60,000 joules is enough for some people, while others with a wider area need more energy. The joule count is decided only after this design is complete.
Measurement and recovery after treatment
At O.N Clinic, before Onda lifting, we measure skin condition with the AI skin analyzer Muse and add visual inspection and palpation to check fat under the chin and skin thickness. After treatment, we also follow the process as swelling and heat subside and the change settles.
On the day of treatment, simply avoiding activities that add heat to the body, such as saunas or alcohol, makes recovery much easier.
In the end, 60,000 or 100,000 joules is just a number. Before that, which tip will send energy to which area in which direction must be decided, and asking about this design instead of the joule count during consultation makes the path to resolving a double chin much clearer.
Frequently asked questions
I am looking into this for a double chin, but I worry my face will lose volume too
It is good to set different treatment directions for areas where fat sits, such as under the chin, and areas where volume should be kept, such as the cheeks. Dividing energy by area can reduce this worry.
If I receive a lot of Onda lifting at once, can I reduce the number of sessions?
Sending energy all at once can increase the burden of swelling and heat, and the skin also needs time to recover and produce collagen. Depending on skin condition, dividing sessions may be better, so we recommend deciding while watching the progress.
Can I go to work the day after treatment?
Mild heat, redness or swelling may appear after treatment, but in many cases daily life is not greatly affected. However, it is best to avoid saunas, alcohol and intense exercise on the day of treatment.
Visiting and consultation
O.N Clinic is located near Gangnam Station, so it is easy to reach by subway.
If you are torn between 60,000 and 100,000 joules of Onda, noting whether a double chin bothers you most and whether you worry about losing cheek volume makes the consultation on tips and energy placement 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 2026-10-27, last reviewed 2026-11-10
This article is for general information only. Suitable treatment and results may vary depending on each person's condition.