Sofwave vs Ultherapy vs ONDA: lifting device mechanisms compared at Seoul clinics
Sofwave, Ultherapy and ONDA are ultrasound and microwave devices offered at the 20 Seoul clinics listed in the table below, each heating a different skin depth for lifting, tightening or body contouring.
Sofwave, Ultherapy and ONDA compared on the same rows, from clinic-published pages in Seoul. 20 clinics list these treatments. Checked on 2026-10-26.
9 sources Checked
- Question
- Which of Sofwave, Ultherapy or ONDA is the right lifting or tightening treatment to book at a Seoul clinic?
- Treatments compared
- Sofwave, Ultherapy, ONDA
Comparison
| Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Ultrasound device using SUPERB technology with seven synchronous transducers, made by Sofwave Medical | Micro-focused ultrasound device with ultrasound visualization (MFU-V), the Ulthera System, made by Merz Aesthetics | Microwave-based device using Coolwaves technology, made by DEKA |
| Energy type | Ultrasound | Ultrasound, focused and guided by real-time imaging | Microwave at 2.45 GHz |
| How it works | Seven transducers fire together to heat the mid-dermis to 60 to 70 degrees C for 4 to 5 seconds per pulse, with a cooling system called Sofcool protecting the skin surface | Focused ultrasound energy reaches depths of up to 4.5 mm, including the SMAS layer, with on-screen ultrasound imaging used to guide the probe before each pulse | Microwaves are absorbed by fat and connective tissue while a contact cooling plate limits surface heating; a shallow handpiece targets skin and cellulite, a deep handpiece targets fat |
| Treatment depth | About 1 to 2 mm, centered at 1.5 mm in the mid-dermis | Up to 4.5 mm, reaching the SMAS layer used in surgical facelifts | Varies by handpiece; the shallow handpiece works at dermal and subdermal level, the deep handpiece reaches the fat layer |
| Sessions | One session is given for face and neck; the FDA clearance for upper arms is based on 2 sessions given 1 to 3 weeks apart | One session is standard; the 2010 cohort study on brow and neck lifting used a single treatment per patient | A course of 4 to 6 sessions spaced 3 to 6 weeks apart for skin tightening or cellulite, per clinic protocols |
| Downtime | None to mild redness that clears within a few hours | Little to none; redness and swelling resolve within hours to a couple of days | Little to none; skin may look pink for a short time after treatment |
| Flying after | No flight restriction published by the manufacturer; clinics allow normal activity the same day | No flight restriction published; clinics allow normal activity, including travel, the same day | No flight restriction published; clinics allow normal activity the same day |
| How long it lasts | Clinic reports range from 6 to 18 months, with many citing around 12 months and peak collagen effect near 12 weeks | Improvement develops over 2 to 3 months and has been reported to still be visible at 12 months in some studies | Not established by independent studies; clinics suggest maintenance sessions every 6 to 12 months |
| FDA status (US) | Cleared for facial lines and wrinkles, eyebrow lift, submental and neck lifting in adults 22 and older, short-term cellulite appearance, acne scars, and upper-arm skin laxity | Cleared for lifting the eyebrow, submental area, neck, and decollete lines; Ultherapy PRIME added arms and abdomen skin laxity in a November 2025 clearance | No specific FDA clearance for skin laxity was found in public records; US distributor material describes Onda clearances tied to temporary local circulation improvement and cellulite appearance |
Clinics
| Clinic | District | Sofwave on the menu | Ultherapy on the menu | ONDA on the menu | Official page | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS Clinic | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | blsclinic.com | 2026-10-20 |
| Delphic Clinic | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | delphicclinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Doje Clinic | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | cheongdamaestheticclinic.com | 2026-10-20 |
| Dr. DAMI Clinic | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | damiclinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Dr. E-Laser Dermatology | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | drelaser.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| EGGCLINIC | Seocho | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | eggclinicseoul.com | 2026-10-20 |
| Ever Skin Clinic | Apgujeong | Ultherapy | ONDA | dermatologistsgangnam.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Gangnam Dermatology, Planew Clinic | Seocho | Ultherapy | ONDA | planewclinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Gold J Clinic | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | goldjclinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Jfeel Dermatology Clinic, Gangnam | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | jfeelclinic.com | 2026-10-20 |
| Lalian Cheongdam Clinic | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | lalian-clinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Liftique | Seocho | Ultherapy | ONDA | liftique.co.kr | 2026-10-20 | |
| LOUAVE Clinic | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | seoulskinclinic.co | 2026-10-20 | |
| Peau Reve Clinic | Gangnam | Ultherapy | ONDA | cheongdamskinclinic.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Reberry clinic myeongdong | Myeongdong | Sofwave | Ultherapy | myeongdongskinclinicreberry.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Springeye Clinic | Hongdae | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | springeye.co.kr | 2026-10-20 |
| The Other Dermatology Clinic | Sinsa | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | theotherskin.com | 2026-10-20 |
| TheWalts Clinic | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | gangnamdermatology.clinic | 2026-10-20 |
| UMI Skin Clinic Myeongdong | Myeongdong | Ultherapy | ONDA | myeongdongmedspa.com | 2026-10-20 | |
| Yaan Clinic | Gangnam | Sofwave | Ultherapy | ONDA | enyaanclinic.com | 2026-10-20 |
Sources note
Device mechanism and depth figures come from the manufacturers' own technology pages for Sofwave and DEKA's Onda; FDA clearance details come from trade press reporting on the manufacturers' announcements and from the peer reviewed Alam et al. 2010 study; session count and downtime ranges for Onda come from equipment distributor brochures because no FDA record or independent clinical guideline for that device was found.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the main difference between Sofwave and Ultherapy? | Sofwave heats the mid-dermis at about 1.5 mm to tighten skin, while Ultherapy reaches up to 4.5 mm into the SMAS layer used in surgical facelifts, so it is positioned for more structural lifting. |
| Is ONDA the same kind of lifting treatment as Sofwave and Ultherapy? | No. ONDA uses microwave energy to heat fat and connective tissue for body contouring and cellulite, and any skin tightening effect is secondary, unlike the ultrasound lifting claims behind Sofwave and Ultherapy. |
| How many sessions do I need for each treatment? | Sofwave and Ultherapy are each given in a single session in most protocols, though Sofwave's FDA clearance for upper arms used two sessions one to three weeks apart; ONDA is given as a course of four to six sessions spaced three to six weeks apart. |
| Is there downtime, and can I fly home after treatment? | All three devices are described by their makers and clinics as having little to no downtime, with redness that clears within hours to a couple of days; no manufacturer or clinic material found specifies a flight restriction, so same-day travel is allowed in clinic protocols. |
| How long do results last? | Sofwave results are reported to last 6 to 18 months, Ultherapy results have been documented up to 12 months in published studies, and ONDA's duration is not established in independent research, with clinics recommending maintenance sessions. |
| Are these treatments FDA cleared? | Sofwave and Ultherapy both hold specific FDA clearances for facial and body skin laxity, listed in the rows above; no FDA clearance specifically for skin laxity was found for ONDA, only distributor claims about circulation and cellulite appearance. |
Sources
- primary-brand-record Sofwave Technology overview (Sofwave Medical) · Checked
- primary-brand-record FDA clears new lifting indications for Sofwave · Checked
- primary-brand-record Sofwave Medical announces FDA clearance of SUPERB technology for cellulite · Checked
- primary-brand-record FDA clears Ultherapy PRIME for skin laxity on arms, abdomen · Checked
- primary-brand-record Ulthera System receives third FDA clearance (decolletage) · Checked
- primary-academic Ultrasound tightening of facial and neck skin: a rater-blinded prospective cohort study (PubMed) · Checked
- primary-brand-record Onda product page (DEKA) · Checked
- primary-brand-record Onda brochure (Lynton, DEKA distributor) · Checked
- primary-academic Review on energy-based aesthetic devices including Onda (PMC) · Checked