Best Treatments for Double Chin: ONDA vs InMode

A double chin, or submental fullness, can make the face look heavier and blur the line between the jaw and neck. It is not always related to body weight. Genetics, jaw and chin shape, posture and age-related skin laxity all play a part, which is why some slim people still struggle with fullness under the chin.

In Korean clinics, two device-based treatments often come up for this concern: ONDA, which uses microwave energy, and InMode, a name commonly used in Korea for radiofrequency treatments performed on InMode platforms, such as Mini FX for fat and Forma for skin tightening. This guide compares how they work and which situations each one is better suited to.

What causes a double chin?

Submental fullness usually comes from one or more of three sources: excess fat above the platysma muscle, loose skin that no longer holds the contour, and structural factors such as a small or set-back chin. Fat below the muscle and enlarged glands can also contribute, but these do not respond to surface devices. A short assessment, often by pinching the area and asking you to tense the neck, helps a doctor decide whether fat, skin or bone is the main issue.

How ONDA works

ONDA is a device that uses microwave energy, delivered through a cooled handpiece, to heat subcutaneous fat selectively. The manufacturer describes this technology as Coolwaves. The idea is that fat cells absorb the energy and are damaged, after which the body gradually clears them, while the heat also stimulates some collagen in the surrounding tissue.

• Main target: localised fat with some mild tightening effect.
• Sensation: warmth and heat from the moving handpiece; usually tolerable without anaesthesia.
• Downtime: generally little; mild redness, swelling or tenderness may occur.
• Sessions: often a course of several sessions spaced a few weeks apart, depending on the plan.

How InMode treatments work

InMode is a manufacturer with several radiofrequency handpieces. For the chin and lower face, Korean clinics commonly use a combination of Mini FX and Forma. Mini FX combines radiofrequency with high-voltage electrical pulses intended to disrupt fat cells in small areas, while Forma delivers temperature-controlled radiofrequency heat to tighten skin. Clinics often perform them together in one session.

• Main target: small fat pockets plus skin firmness and contour.
• Sensation: warmth from Forma and brief snapping or twitching sensations from Mini FX pulses.
• Downtime: usually minimal, with short-lived redness.
• Sessions: typically a series of sessions; many people repeat periodically for maintenance.

InMode also makes more invasive options, such as subdermal RF systems used in minimally invasive procedures, which are different from the non-invasive treatments most visitors book. If the term is used in a quote, ask exactly which handpiece is meant.

ONDA vs InMode: key differences

• Energy: ONDA uses microwaves; InMode treatments use radiofrequency, with Mini FX adding electrical pulses.
• Primary focus: ONDA leans towards fat reduction; InMode combinations are often chosen for a balance of fat reduction and tightening.
• Area size: both are suitable for the submental area; ONDA is also widely used on larger body areas.
• Comfort: both are usually tolerable; some people find ONDA hotter and Mini FX pulses unusual rather than painful.
• Downtime: both are low-downtime, which suits short trips.
• Speed of results: both act gradually, with change usually assessed over weeks to a few months.
• Number of sessions: both generally need repeated sessions for a noticeable result.

Other options worth knowing

Devices are not the only route. Fat-dissolving injections (deoxycholic acid-based products and various local formulations) are popular in Korea for small fat pockets, though they often cause notable swelling for several days. Cryolipolysis is another non-invasive fat-reduction approach. For a weak chin, a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler to project the chin can visually reduce a double chin. Liposuction remains the most predictable option for larger volumes of fat.

Lifting devices such as HIFU or Thermage may be added when skin laxity rather than fat is the main problem. A balanced plan sometimes combines one fat-focused treatment with one tightening treatment.

Who is not a good candidate?

• People whose fullness comes mainly from loose skin or deep structures, where fat-focused devices will help little.
• Those expecting results equivalent to liposuction from a few sessions.
• Anyone with metal implants, pacemakers or other contraindications specific to energy devices; always disclose your medical history.
• Pregnant people, and anyone with active skin infection or inflammation in the area.
• People with significant weight fluctuation, as results depend on stable body weight.

Which should you choose?

If a doctor finds that soft, pinchable fat is the main issue and your skin is still reasonably firm, ONDA or Mini FX-based InMode treatment are both reasonable choices, and the decision may come down to device availability, comfort and the doctor's own experience. If you have a mix of mild fat and loose skin, an InMode combination including Forma, or ONDA paired with a separate tightening treatment, may address both. If the chin is set back, filler may give more visible improvement than any device. Because multiple sessions are usually needed, visitors on short trips should ask whether a meaningful result is possible within their stay or whether follow-up treatment at home is realistic.

Conclusion

ONDA and InMode treatments are both non-invasive, low-downtime ways to reduce mild to moderate submental fullness, but neither is a substitute for surgery when fat or laxity is significant. The most important step is identifying what is causing your double chin. Once that is clear, a dermatologist can recommend a device, a combination or an alternative such as filler or injections, and set realistic expectations for the number of sessions involved.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Suitability, results and recovery vary from person to person.