I finally flew to Seoul this summer to get the ONDA Microwave treatment. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure what ONDA was at first, but after reading many posts on Dcard and PTT, I noticed more and more people going to Korea for it. I decided to be a guinea pig and record my authentic experience for reference.
▎Why I Wanted ONDA
Let me share my background first. I’m 29 years old, female, and on the slimmer side with a normal BMI, but I was born with a double chin that never went away no matter how much I lost weight. In photos, I always had to find a specific angle, holding my phone high up so I wouldn’t look chubby. When looking down, that extra layer of fat under my chin was truly devastating.
I considered fat-dissolving injections before, but my research showed the results varied, and some people swelled up like a pig. Liposuction felt too terrifying, and just hearing the word “suck” made my legs weak. Later, I saw someone sharing ONDA on Xiaohongshu. They described it as deep microwave heating to eliminate fat—no needles, no knives, and practically painless—so I started doing serious research.
During my research, I found out ONDA had been popular in Korea for a while. It’s a device made by the Korean company Classys. The principle uses microwave energy to heat the subcutaneous fat layer, letting fat cells naturally metabolize while tightening the skin. This point was super important to me because I was terrified of loose, sagging skin making things look worse after fat loss.
▎How I Chose the Clinic
I consulted about four clinics in Seoul, sending photos online in advance for price estimates. To be honest, the online consultation efficiency of Korean clinics is very high; they reply within a day or two and have Chinese translators to assist.
I finally chose a clinic in Gangnam for three reasons: first, they had the newest ONDA model, and the doctor was specially trained by ONDA; second, pricing was transparent without hard-selling other procedures; third, I saw a blogger’s post-treatment review showing very natural results without that “obviously done plastic surgery” look.
During the consultation, I asked many questions, and the translator patiently relayed them. After examining my facial structure, the doctor said my double chin was fat-based and ONDA could handle it, recommending three sessions spaced one month apart. However, since I could only fly there once, I decided to try one session first.
▎Pre-Trip Preparation
Drank plenty of water starting three days before the trip; the doctor said it helps post-treatment metabolism.
Brought anti-swelling ointment and an ice pack, but didn’t end up using them at all.
Prepared loose, high-necked clothing in case my skin felt sensitive afterward.
Booked a follow-up visit on the third post-treatment day to check recovery.
Mental preparation: Told myself the effect of a single session is limited, so don’t expect too much.
To be honest, I was super nervous the night before. Even though ONDA is non-invasive and requires no anesthesia, it was still a procedure on my face.
▎Full Experience on Treatment Day
My first impression of the clinic was that the environment was super clean, and someone handed me water and forms to fill out right when I walked in. After basic info, the translator took me for a consultation.
The doctor used a device to scan my chin area, explained the thickness of the fat layer, and described how the ONDA probe slides over the skin surface, heating the deep layers to about 42°C to 45°C via microwave energy. He emphasized this temperature is the critical point for fat cell metabolism without burning the skin surface.
When treatment started, the nurse applied a layer of gel under my chin, and the doctor began sliding the probe. The initial feeling was warm, completely painless. As the energy increased, the temperature rose, and halfway through, I felt that area under my chin heating up, but it was completely tolerable. (Pain level about 2 out of 10, much less painful than laser treatments.)
The whole session took about 30 minutes. The doctor meticulously slid the probe back and forth, occasionally asking if the temperature was too high. Looking in the mirror afterward, my chin looked slightly flushed, but not swollen, with no surface wounds. My first thought was: “That’s it? It feels like nothing was done.”
The doctor said results aren’t immediate and will gradually show in two to four weeks as fat cells take time to metabolize.
▎Post-Treatment Recovery Diary
Day 1: Slight flush on the chin, faded in about two hours. Zero swelling, normal eating and speaking. Gently washed my face that night with no special care needed.
Days 2–3: Felt completely normal. If not mentioned, I would have forgotten I had a procedure. No skin sensitivity or bruising.
Day 7: Started feeling like my chin contour looked a bit sharper, though I wasn’t sure if it was psychological. Taking photos seemed different, and looking down didn’t show that layer of fat as prominently.
Week 2: Results started becoming obvious! Colleagues asked if I lost weight, even though my weight hadn’t changed at all. The chin line became sharper, and side-profile photos didn’t require finding angles anymore.
Month 1: Compared to pre-treatment photos, the double chin was gone by about 40%. It didn’t completely disappear, but I was already satisfied. Doing one or two more sessions would make it even more obvious.
Month 3: Results stabilized with no rebound. Skin didn’t sag; instead, it felt tighter than before.
▎How Much Did ONDA Cost?
Treatment fee: Single ONDA session about 450,000 KRW (approx. 11,000 TWD)
Round-trip flight: Approx. 12,000 TWD (China Airlines direct)
4 nights accommodation: Approx. 8,000 TWD (Gangnam Airbnb)
Translation fee: Free service provided by the clinic
Transportation & misc: Approx. 3,000 TWD
Post-treatment skincare: Approx. 2,000 TWD (moisturizing essence recommended by the doctor)
Total spent: Around 36,000 TWD. Honestly, if you only count the treatment fee, it was cheaper than expected, but adding flights and lodging makes it a lot. Coordinating two to three sessions at once would yield a better cost-performance ratio.
▎My Honest Review
Pros:
Practically painless, no anesthesia required, zero downtime.
No wounds; you can go shopping immediately after.
No special post-treatment care needed.
Results are slow but genuinely noticeable.
Has a tightening effect at the same time, preventing skin sagging.
Cons:
Single-session results are limited; multiple sessions are needed for clear visibility.
Flying to Korea just for one session feels like a waste of airfare.
Results appear slowly, requiring 2 to 4 weeks of patience.
Useless if the double chin is caused by bone structure.
▎3 Suggestions for Those Wanting to Go
Make sure to confirm whether your double chin is fat-based or structural. If it’s the latter, ONDA won’t work and your money will be wasted. Clarify this during the online consultation.
If flying to Korea for it, plan 2 to 3 sessions spaced one month apart, or bundle ONDA with other procedures to make the flight and hotel costs worthwhile.
Drink plenty of water and drink less alcohol within a month post-treatment to help fat metabolism. The doctor mentioned poor results for some people stem from bad metabolism, linked to water intake and lifestyle habits.
▎FAQ
Q: Difference between ONDA and fat-dissolving injections?
Injections use medication to dissolve fat, causing swelling, pain, and a long recovery with unstable results. ONDA uses microwave heating to metabolize fat non-invasively, with almost zero pain and no downtime, though multiple sessions are needed.
Q: Will skin sag after ONDA?
In my experience, no; it felt tighter. ONDA’s microwave energy simultaneously stimulates collagen production for a tightening effect. However, extreme fat loss cases might need caution.
Q: Does it hurt? Is anesthesia needed?
No anesthesia needed. Low pain, just a warm sensation—much more comfortable than lasers or injections. Those afraid of pain can rest assured.
Q: How long to see results?
Takes effect in 2 to 4 weeks, most obvious at 1 month. Not an instant disappearance, so patience is required.
Q: How long do results last?
The doctor says maintaining a stable weight keeps results for over a year. If you overeat and gain weight back, the double chin will return; it’s not a permanent fix.
▎Conclusion
Overall, I think ONDA suits people who are “afraid of pain, want non-invasive treatment, and have a mild double chin they want to improve.” Results aren’t dramatic, but real and effortless. If I had to score it, a single session is about 7 out of 10, but 3 full sessions could reach 9. The biggest gain is no longer needing special angles for photos, which alone makes it worth it.
Everyone’s condition is different, so it’s recommended to get a professional medical consultation before deciding. This sharing is based purely on personal experience and does not constitute medical advice.
