If your jawline looks less defined and you start looking into lifting treatments, you will often find yourself comparing Ultherapy and ONDA lifting.

 

Both are known as treatments that help refine the facial contour, so they can seem quite similar at first.

 

In reality, however, the way the energy works is different, and the effects you can expect are also slightly different.

 

In this article, we will go through the principles, effects, and differences between these two devices one by one.

 

What kind of treatment is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound (HIFU, a method that concentrates ultrasound energy into a single point).

 

Because it can deliver energy to relatively deep layers and target the SMAS layer (the supporting structural layer beneath the skin), it works from deeper within,

so rather than simply smoothing the surface of the skin, it is closer to lifting and tightening deeper structures.

 

That is why, if your jawline is not just slightly full but appears generally lower, or if the contour looks blurred because of heaviness in the lower cheek area, Ultherapy may be a better fit.

Source: A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(2):1522.

 

In fact, in 2023, improvements in skin tightening and wrinkles were confirmed in 92% of cases at the 90-day point based on evaluator assessment, and these changes tended to continue for up to one year.

 

In the same review, brow lift was reported as 0.47 to 1.7 mm, and the submental area showed a reduction of 26 to 45 mm² based on lateral photographs, suggesting that Ultherapy is not simply a device with an “immediate effect,” but one in which the lifting effect becomes more noticeable over time.

 

How is ONDA lifting different?

ONDA lifting, on the other hand, uses microwaves (ultra-short wave energy) and is more focused on improving the fat layer and contour around the jawline.

 

In other words, rather than being a strongly pulling lifting treatment, it is closer to an approach that refines a blurred jawline so that it looks slimmer and more defined.

 

For example, if the skin is not significantly sagging but the area under the chin looks a little full, or if the side profile feels heavy even without severe double chin, ONDA may be the better choice.

 

It also tends to involve relatively little downtime and less swelling, so people with busy schedules or those considering contouring treatments for the first time may find it less burdensome.

 

A similar trend was also seen in a 2025 study on submental laxity.

 

Ten women with moderate to severe submental laxity were treated twice at 30-day intervals, and after 12 weeks, the average Submental Skin Laxity Grade improved from 3.6 to 2.3.

 

In this study, no side effects were reported, and visible improvements in skin tone and tightening were also confirmed in standardized photographs.

Fig. 2

An example of a middle-aged woman unsatisfied with the appearance of her anterior cervicomental triangle and eligible for the treatment is reported. For this patient, power: 70 W and energy: 35,000 were used. Pre-treatment (A) and post-2-session-treatment (B) photographs are shown. In B, the patient’s skin laxity is sensibly reduced, and neck wrinkles and general tightening are visible.

Source: An innovative microwave technology for the treatment of submental skin laxity

 

So what criteria should you use to decide?

 

The difference between these two treatments can actually be summarized quite simply.

 

If improving sagging and achieving deeper-layer lifting is more important, Ultherapy may be the better direction. If fat reduction and jawline slimming are more important, ONDA lifting may be the better option.

 

In particular, if you are relatively young and your skin elasticity has not declined significantly, a gentler contouring treatment like ONDA may suit you better than starting with a stronger lifting treatment right away.

 

On the other hand, if facial sagging is clearly visible and you need lifting not only for the jawline but for the entire lower face, Ultherapy may provide a more meaningful result.

There are also some points you need to watch carefully

 

Even if the concern looks like the same jawline issue, the actual cause can vary from person to person.

 

For some people, the issue is under-chin fat. For others, the main problem is skin laxity. And for some, the jawline may look heavy because of masseter muscle development or facial bone structure.

 

If you choose a lifting device without distinguishing between these causes, the result may feel quite different from what you expected.

 

In the end, what matters most is accurately identifying what needs to be reduced, which layer needs to be treated, and how strongly the treatment should be applied.

 

How do you decide which treatment is right for you?

In other words, although both Ultherapy and ONDA are lifting treatments, they are not the same treatment.

 

Ultherapy may be more suitable when deeper-layer lifting is needed, while ONDA lifting may be more suitable when you want to refine the fat and contour around the jawline to create a lighter and more defined line.

 

So if you want to find the right treatment for yourself, rather than thinking in terms of which device is simply “better,” it is more important to first determine whether your blurred jawline is caused by sagging, fat, or a structural issue.

 

Ultimately, jawline treatment is a matter of diagnosis and design.

 

※ This article is intended for general medical information only. The suitability and method of treatment may vary depending on each individual’s skin condition and facial structure. Accurate diagnosis and treatment planning should always be determined through professional consultation.