After saving for half a year for the medical beauty treatment fund, I finally decided to fly to Seoul to undergo the ONDA ultramicro-wave lifting procedure. Before leaving, I searched through various forums such as Dcard, PTT, and South Korea-based discussion boards. What really troubled me wasn’t finding a clinic, but deciding exactly how many joules of energy to use so as not to waste my money.
In South Korea, the prices for such treatments range from 300,000 to 800,000 Korean won, with a difference of nearly double – and the key lies in the number of joules used. If less than 60 kj are applied to the face, the results are barely noticeable; if less than 100 kj are used on the body, the effect is almost the same as if no treatment was done at all. I have compared the prices and joule amounts provided by five Gangnam clinics and compiled this article to help you understand how to choose the most cost-effective option.
South Korea’s ONDA ultramicro-wave lifting treatment prices are completely transparent: the costs for facial and body treatments are disclosed publicly for the first time.
Let me state the conclusion first: The pricing of South Korea’s ONDA ultramicrowaves is primarily based on the number of joules delivered, rather than the number of treatment areas. For facial treatments, there is a 20-30% difference in cost between treatments delivering 60 kj and those delivering 80 kj, and the results are also significantly different.
Facial contour lifting (for Double Chin, excess flesh around the mouth, and the jawline): 60 kj costs approximately NT$7,000 to NT$9,000. This is the most common package offered, and the basic prices listed by various clinics generally fall within this range.
For a more noticeable tightening effect, adding an 80-kilojoule treatment costs approximately NT$9,000 to NT$13,000. Among the 5 clinics I consulted, the 80-kilojoule package usually includes an additional treatment to strengthen the jawline, making it more cost-effective than the 60-kilojoule option.
For body areas such as the abdomen, Thighs, and arms with sleeve designs, the price starts at approximately NT$14,000 to NT$18,000 for treatments with 100 kj of energy. For treatments exceeding 120 kj, the cost ranges from NT$18,000 to NT$27,000.
Many clinics offer combined packages for facial treatments and body procedures, which are 20-30% cheaper than buying them separately. If you want to undergo both treatments, it’s always most cost-effective to ask about the combined package price directly.
Why is it that only when 60-80 kilojoules of energy are applied to the face does one notice any effect? Using too little energy is simply a waste of money.
The principle of ONDA is to use 2.45GHz microwaves to penetrate the epidermis and directly heat the subcutaneous fat layer to 42-43 degrees ONDO. If the ONDO is not sufficient, the fat cells will not undergo apoptosis, and Collagen will not contract either.
The dean of the Dermatology department at Gangnam told me quite bluntly: “Getting 40 kj of treatment is just like applying a warm compress. You may feel tight immediately after the treatment, but three days later, it will be just the same as if you hadn’t received any treatment at all.”
60 kj is currently the minimum effective threshold for clinics in South Korea. This amount of energy is sufficient to raise the fat layer under the Double Chin to a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, causing the collagen fibers to contract significantly. After 2 to 4 weeks, one will begin to notice that the contours of the lower jaw become clearer.
The 80-kilojoule version is suitable for those with a thicker fat layer or who wish to achieve immediate results. It delivers higher energy and more intense effects, resulting in more noticeable sculpting results for the areas around the mouth and the Double Chin. The downside is that the sensation of warmth after the procedure lasts for a relatively long time, ranging from half a day to a whole day.
A quick reminder: For those with a slim face, choose the 60-kilojoule package to save money; for those with a fuller face, the 80-kilojoule package is more suitable. In my experience, don’t opt for packages with less than 60 kilojoules—it’s simply a waste of money.
A minimum of 100 kj of energy is required for it to be effective; so why does insufficient energy mean that all the effort is in vain?
The fat layer in the body is 2 to 3 times thicker than that on the face, so microwave energy below 100 kj simply cannot penetrate the deeper layers of fat. This is why the joule output required for body treatments has to be doubled.
Let me use an analogy to explain it: Facial fat is similar to the thickness of plastic wrap, while body fat is more like a book. When 60 kilojoules of energy are applied, on the face, it can penetrate through all layers of fat; but on the body, it only encounters the superficial layers before being dissipated.
The abdomen is the most common area for body contouring treatments, and the recommended energy intensity is typically 100-120 kj. For areas such as the inner thighs and the “butterfly sleeves” of the arms, where the fat layer is thinner, 90-100 kj should be sufficient to produce noticeable results.
High-energy packages with 120 kj or more are ideal for those who experience abdominal laxity after childbirth or still have excess fat in certain areas after weight loss. Higher energy levels mean that a single treatment session can destroy more fat cells, resulting in more noticeable metabolic effects afterward.
Just a reminder: Using ONDA is not about losing weight, but about shaping the body’s contours. If you are significantly overweight, it is best to first control your diet and exercise before using ONDA to define your body lines – this way, you will see the best results.
Price comparison between South Korea and Taiwan’s ONDA services: how much can you actually save by taking a flight?
I also inquired about prices at three medical beauty clinics in Taiwan and five in South Korea, and the price differences were really so significant that it made me consider booking a flight right away.
| Area/Joules | Prices in South Korea | South Korea (NT$) | Taiwan (NT$) | How much can be saved? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kj for the face area | 300,000 to 400,000 Korean won | 7,000 to 9,000 | 25,000 to 30,000 | Save 65-70% |
| 80 kj for the face area | 400,000 to 550,000 Korean won | 9,000 to 13,000 | 30,000 to 38,000 | Save 60-70% |
| 100 kj for the body | 600,000 to 800,000 Korean won | 14,000 to 18,000 | 25,000 to 35,000 | Save 35-50% |
| Body weight: over 120 kilograms | 800,000 to 1,200,000 Korean won | 18,000 to 27,000 | 35,000 to 45,000 | Save 40-50% |
Round-trip air tickets cost between NT$6,000 and NT$10,000, and 3 nights of accommodation also cost approximately NT$6,000. If you get one treatment for the face and one for the body, the money saved will be enough for additional expenses such as drinks and other miscellaneous costs. Moreover, you can also take some time to explore Seoul during your stay, making this a perfect combination of medical beauty treatment and a leisure trip.
South Korean clinics often offer tax refund services for foreigners. Remember to ask for a tax refund form when checking out to save some extra money.
Where is the most cost-effective option? My actual experience consulting at Betterme Gangnam Dermatology in Gangnam
I visited five different clinics in Gangnam District before making my final choice: Betterme Gangnam Dermatology. The reasons for choosing them were quite simple: their pricing was transparent, their equipment was the new ONDA Pro model, and they offered Chinese-speaking customer service, so I didn’t have to worry about communication issues.
The clinic is located 3 minutes away on foot from Exit 10 of Gangnam Station, on the 11th floor of a separate building. The environment is new and clean. When providing consultation, the director doesn’t insist on expensive packages but instead recommends that 60 kj of treatment would be sufficient, based on the thickness of my fat layer. It’s very practical and honest.
Betterme Gangnam is also a BeautsGO-certified clinic. It is extremely convenient for Taiwanese patients to make appointments, obtain quotes, and follow up after the procedures in Chinese.
用BeautsGO預約還有個好處：價格全部公開透明，不會有到現場才加價的問題。建議出發前2週就先預約，熱門時段很容易滿。
ONDA超微波常見問題：痛不痛？做幾次？能維持多久？
ONDA超微波會痛嗎？幾乎不痛。探頭有冷卻系統維持表皮5度，施作過程只有溫熱感，比熱瑪吉舒服太多了。做完皮膚微紅，半小時就退。
要做幾次才有效？第一次做完2-4週就能看到線條變化。明顯雕塑效果建議3次一個完整療程，每次間隔2-4週。脂肪代謝需要時間，急不得。
效果能維持多久？減脂效果是永久的——被破壞的脂肪細胞不會再長回來。緊緻效果約6-12個月，之後建議每半年到一年做一次保養。
有恢復期嗎？完全沒有。做完直接去逛街吃飯都沒問題。唯一要注意的是術後一週每天喝水2000cc以上，幫助脂肪代謝。
誰不適合做？懷孕、裝心律調節器、治療部位有金屬植入物、嚴重皮膚病的人不適合。術前一定要跟醫師坦白病史。
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