Patient case · in the doctor's own words
ONDA Body Lifting in Seoul: Mikaela's “Glow Up Before 30” Episode, Explained by Her Doctor
For episode five of her “glow up before 30” series, Mikaela (@miikkita_) switched from face to body and chose ONDA Body 60kJ. Her doctor explains what it does, what it costs and who should skip it.
Explained by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Director · Lead Physician · Lifting, Laser & Anti-aging
Tap to play — it opens right here, no Instagram app needed.
Most of the visitors I see in Gangnam come in about their face. When someone books a body appointment, it's usually because they have already spent money on skincare and realised the thing that bothers them in photos is somewhere else. I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director of Delphic Clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station; I trained at Korea University Medical Center and I consult and treat international patients myself. Mikaela came in for episode five of her series with exactly that shift in focus, and the question she represents — “can a device actually change my body shape?” — is one I hear several times a week. Here is my honest answer, with her numbers.
Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim ·
In her own words
(Translated from Spanish) GLOW UP WITH ME BEFORE 30 — EP. 5 ✨ Today it's body treatments in Korea 🇰🇷 and this is exactly what I had done: ✨ ONDA Body 60kJ — ₩390,000 (event price) … The glow up before 30 continues 🥹✨
Why a face series turned into a body episode
Mikaela's earlier episodes were about skin. By episode five she wanted to work on shape, and that is a different conversation. Skin treatments change texture and tone; body contouring is about a soft, localised layer of fat and the looseness of the skin over it.
Before choosing anything, I ask the patient to point at the exact spot that bothers them, standing up. A body area that looks soft in a mirror can be fat, loose skin, or posture — and only the first two respond to a device like ONDA.
How ONDA works below the skin
ONDA is a microwave device from DEKA in Italy. Its Coolwaves™ energy passes through a cooled skin surface and turns into heat in the deeper fat layer, which is why the same machine is used on faces that look heavy and on body areas with stubborn, pinchable fat. The heat also reaches the connective tissue, so firmness is part of the goal, not only volume.
I've written a longer explanation of how ONDA tightens skin and targets stubborn fat without surgery, if you want the device-level detail.
- Energy is measured in kilojoules (kJ). Mikaela's 60kJ is the larger of the two body options on our menu; 40kJ is the lighter one.
- One “area” means one zone we agree on at the consultation, treated in a single pass plan.
- No anaesthetic injections are needed. The surface stays cool while the deeper layer warms.
What the session actually feels like
Most patients describe a deep, spreading warmth rather than a sting. Some moments feel more intense over areas with less fat, and I lower the energy there rather than push through. You can talk to me throughout, and you can always ask for a pause.
Afterwards the skin can look a little pink and feel warm for a while. You can get dressed and carry on with your day, which is why it fits a travel itinerary more easily than people expect.
The price Mikaela posted, and what's behind it
Mikaela shared her price openly: ₩390,000 for ONDA Body 60kJ. That matches our first-visit price for one body area at 60kJ, and it is the same for Korean and international patients — there is no separate foreigner list.
- Onda Lifting (Body 1 Area) 60kj (First-visit trial)₩390,000≈ $280
VAT excluded · identical for Korean and international patients · regular price for ONDA body, one area 60kJ: ₩600,000. Your exact area and energy are confirmed at the free consultation.
If you are building a full trip budget, there is an ONDA cost calculator on the blog.
When to judge the result
- Day one: warmth and mild swelling can make the area feel tighter. I ask patients not to judge on this.
- The following weeks: the treated fat layer and connective tissue respond gradually, so changes tend to show slowly.
- Lifestyle matters: weight changes can hide or erase a contour change, in either direction.
- Repeat sessions: some patients plan more than one, and that decision is made after seeing your own response.
Booking it around a Seoul trip
- 1
Before you fly
Message us on WhatsApp with a photo of the area and your travel dates. I'll tell you honestly whether ONDA is the right tool or whether something else fits better.
- 2
On the day
Consultation with me, then treatment the same day if we agree. English and Chinese interpreters are on site.
- 3
Getting here
We're a short walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam.
- 4
Afterwards
Keep the rest of the day gentle. Message us if anything feels unusual, even after you've flown home.
If your concern is the face rather than the body, my first-timer guide on slimming a heavy face with ONDA covers that side.
Is this for you?
Who this combination genuinely suits
Signs it may be time
- One area bothers you in photos even though your weight is stable
- Clothes fit differently around one spot than they used to
- You've already invested in skincare and want to work on shape
- You want a body treatment that fits into a sightseeing day
A good fit if
- You have a soft, localised area of fat that hasn't changed with exercise
- You'd like that area to look firmer, not only smaller
- You're in Seoul for a short trip and need same-day recovery
- You prefer a non-surgical first step before considering anything more invasive
Not the right first step if: you're pregnant, have a pacemaker or metal implants near the area, an active skin infection there, or your goal is overall weight loss rather than a local contour. I'll suggest a different starting point in those cases.
“Send me a standing photo of the area before your trip. I'll tell you whether ONDA body makes sense, and at which energy, before you spend anything.”
Questions patients ask me about this
How much is ONDA body lifting in Korea?
At Delphic Clinic, ONDA for one body area is ₩270,000 at 40kJ or ₩390,000 at 60kJ at first-visit prices, VAT excluded. Regular prices are ₩400,000 and ₩600,000. International patients pay the same as Korean patients.
Does ONDA body treatment hurt?
Most patients feel deep warmth rather than sharp pain, because the skin surface is cooled while the heat acts below it. The doctor adjusts energy for thinner areas, and no anaesthetic injection is needed.
Is there downtime after ONDA on the body?
You can return to normal activities the same day. The area can look slightly pink or feel warm for a while afterwards, which is why it fits easily into a short trip.
Is ONDA body a weight-loss treatment?
No. ONDA targets a localised fat layer and the connective tissue over it to improve contour and firmness. It does not replace overall weight management, and stable weight helps any change hold.
What's the difference between 40kJ and 60kJ ONDA body?
The number is the total energy delivered to one area. A larger or thicker area usually needs more energy; the doctor chooses the level after examining you at the consultation.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
Go deeper on the blog
Treatments in this case
More patient cases
View all →
@evidence06thTummy Fat-Dissolving InjectionTummy Fat-Dissolving Injections in Seoul: Bongi's “Let's See How This Goes”, Answered by the Doctor
Bongi (@evidence06th) brought viewers along for fat-dissolving injections on the tummy, ending with “let's see how this goes”. This page answers that question honestly: what to expect, when, and for whom.
Read the case
@priscillathachONDA 40kJ + Body Fat InjectionsONDA 40kJ on the Stomach in Seoul: Priscilla's First Session and What 40kJ Actually Means
Priscilla (@priscillathach) filmed her first ONDA 40kJ session on the stomach, paired with fat-dissolving injections. Her doctor explains what the kJ number means, what the first weeks look like, and the price.
Read the case
@krishaangela25ONDA Body + Fat-Dissolving InjectionLower Belly Fat in Korea: Krisha Angela's ONDA Body Visit, Explained by the Doctor
Krisha Angela (@krishaangela25) targeted the lower-belly pocket that diet and exercise wouldn't shift. Her doctor explains why a device and an injection were combined, what it costs, and when it's the wrong tool.
Read the case
@official.linet_Body ONDA + Fat-Dissolving InjectionBody Contouring in Korea with ONDA + Fat-Dissolving Injections: Linet's Start, Explained by Her Doctor
Linet (@official.linet_) started her body-contouring journey in Seoul with ONDA Coolwaves and a fat-dissolving injection. Her doctor explains why the two go together, what they cost, and what they can't do.
Read the case