Dr Sin Yong reviewing a DEKA handpiece at the DEKA Centre of Excellence, Singapore
Certified DEKA Centre of Excellence · Orchard Road, Singapore

Onda Pro Singapore — Coolwaves® Microwave

Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 17 min read · Doctor-performed, never delegated · Jump to questions

Dr Sin Yong · MBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edin) · MSc Aesthetic Medicine with Distinction (Queen Mary, London) · MSc Practical Dermatology (Cardiff) · International KOL

Onda Pro is DEKA's microwave platform. It is applied to localised fat, cellulite and skin laxity on the body, and — through a finer handpiece — to Onda lifting of the face. Dr Sin Yong is an International Key Opinion Leader for DEKA.

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Onda Pro in Singapore is DEKA's Coolwaves microwave platform for localised fat, cellulite and skin laxity on the body, with a finer handpiece for the face. Microwave energy at 2.45 GHz is absorbed preferentially by fat rather than the overlying dermis, which is what separates it from radiofrequency and laser body treatments.

Key takeaways
  • Onda Pro is DEKA's Coolwaves microwave platform, neither laser nor radiofrequency, used on the body and, with a finer handpiece, the face.
  • Microwave energy at 2.45 GHz is absorbed preferentially by fat, acting on fat cell membranes, septa and dermal collagen.
  • Suitability depends on whether the concern is fat, laxity or volume, and on medical history, including implants.
  • It is not a substitute for surgery where the issue is structural descent, and it does not add volume.
  • Dr Sin Yong, an aesthetic physician, assesses and performs treatment at a certified DEKA Centre of Excellence.
On this page
  1. What Is Onda?
  2. How Coolwaves® Works — Why the Frequency Matters
  3. Onda Lifting — the Face
  4. Onda for the Body
  5. Onda Compared With Other Modalities
  6. Who should not have Onda Pro?
  7. Is Onda Pro safe? The risks to know
  8. What recovery looks like after Onda Pro
  9. Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on
  10. Before you book
  11. What determines the fee
  12. Myths we hear in clinic
  13. Onda Pro — Frequently Asked Questions
  14. Related Pages
  15. Speak With Dr Sin Yong

What Is Onda?

Key facts
Platform
DEKA Onda Pro, Coolwaves®
Energy type
Microwave — not laser, not radiofrequency
Frequency
2.45 GHz
Absorbed by
Adipose tissue, preferentially over dermis
Acts on
Adipocyte membranes, the septa between adipose lobules, dermal collagen
Areas
Abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, submental; face via the finer handpiece

Onda is a treatment platform built by DEKA, the medical laser manufacturer founded in Florence. What makes it unusual is that it does not use laser light or radiofrequency at all. It works with microwave energy, delivered through a patented system DEKA calls Coolwaves®, at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

Onda Pro is the current configuration of that platform. It adds a finer Precision-GigaWave handpiece, which is what allows the same technology to be applied to the face as well as the body.

Dr Sin Yong works with Onda Pro as one of four DEKA platforms in his range, alongside the TORO, RedTouch Pro and Tetra Pro CO2 systems. His practice is a certified DEKA Centre of Excellence.

How Coolwaves® Works — Why the Frequency Matters

Tissue does not absorb electromagnetic energy uniformly. How readily a given tissue takes up that energy depends on its water and fat content, and on the frequency applied. This is the whole basis of the platform.

Radiofrequency, lower down the spectrum, deposits a large share of its energy in the dermis and epidermis — which is exactly what you want when the target is dermal collagen and the objective is skin tightening.

Microwave energy at 2.45 GHz behaves differently. It is preferentially absorbed by adipose tissue, so proportionally more of the delivered energy reaches the subcutaneous fat layer rather than being absorbed on the way through. A contact cooling system holds the skin surface down while this happens, which is what allows the energy to work beneath the skin without an incision and without general anaesthetic.

The energy then acts on three things at once: the membranes of subcutaneous fat cells; the connective septa between adipose lobules, whose tethering produces the dimpled surface associated with cellulite; and dermal collagen, which contracts under heat and remodels over the weeks that follow.

“How readily a given tissue takes up that energy depends on its water and fat content, and on the frequency applied.”

Dr Sin YongOn why frequency decides depth
A woman in athletic wear in a bright room
Body treatments are matched to the type of fat and skin present.

Onda Lifting — the Face

Onda lifting is the term used when the platform is applied to the face rather than the body, and it is asked about at least as often as body work.

On the face the objective changes entirely. The target is no longer a fat compartment but dermal collagen, and the energy is delivered at a shallower depth through the smaller handpiece, with tighter control over where it lands. The areas most often approached are the lower face and jawline, and the submental region where face and neck meet.

It is worth being clear about what this is and is not. It is a non-surgical, non-incisional approach that works by stimulating tissue. It does not introduce anything into the face, and it is not a substitute for surgery where the underlying issue is structural descent. Whether it is the right instrument depends on whether the presentation is one of laxity, of volume, or of fat — and that is a question for examination rather than for a brochure.

Onda for the Body

On the body, microwave delivery is directed at point-zone fat deposits and at the tissue around them. The areas most commonly addressed are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms and the submental region.

Cellulite is worth separating out, because it is frequently misunderstood. The dimpled surface is not caused by the fat itself but by the fibrous septa running between the adipose lobules and tethering the skin down. Energy directed at those septa addresses a different structure from energy directed at the fat volume, which is why a treatment aimed only at fat reduction rarely changes surface texture.

Onda sits alongside rather than in place of Dr Sin Yong's other body work. The 4K Body Lift applies radiofrequency to resistant fat deposits and overlying skin; the microwave and radiofrequency approaches place energy in different tissue layers and are used accordingly.

Onda Compared With Other Modalities

Patients frequently arrive having read about several platforms and wanting to know which is better. The more useful question is which mechanism suits which presentation, because these devices are not competing versions of the same thing.

  • HIFU and Ultherapy — focused ultrasound, converging energy at a precise depth to create discrete coagulation points, typically at the SMAS layer. The mechanism of choice where the objective is structural lift.
  • Thermage — monopolar radiofrequency, depositing energy in the dermis for tightening.
  • Onda Pro — microwave energy absorbed across a volume of adipose tissue rather than converging at a point, with a dermal collagen response following as a secondary effect.

None of these replaces another, and a considered plan may draw on more than one. Which applies to you is decided at assessment.

References

DEKA M.E.L.A. Onda Pro / Coolwaves® product specifications. dekalaser.com

Who should not have Onda Pro?

Onda Pro is not used in anyone with a pacemaker or other heart implant, a deep brain or sacral nerve stimulator, or heart failure. It is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it is not used with a current cancer or one treated within the past five years, a clotting disorder or active vein inflammation, an organ transplant, kidney or liver failure, or poorly controlled diabetes. These are among the main contraindications set out by an international advisory board of Onda users in 2024.

Other conditions call for caution and may change the plan: a rash, infection, bruise or wound in the area, skin conditions made worse by heat, blood-thinning medicines, autoimmune disease, a tendency to keloids, varicose veins in the area, and metal implants in the treatment field. Because the session relies on you reporting heat, reduced sensation anywhere in the area is a reason not to treat it. Suitability is decided at consultation, after Dr Sin Yong has taken a medical history and examined the area.

Is Onda Pro safe? The risks to know

The expected effects are warmth, redness, swelling and tenderness in the treated area, sometimes with itching, numbness or a firm feeling under the skin. These usually settle within days. Less often there is bruising, small nodules that can be felt beneath the skin, blistering or a burn.

The same advisory board linked most of these to how the device is used: too much handpiece pressure, settings too high for the tissue, or treating someone who was not suitable in the first place. Risk is reduced by an examination before treatment, settings chosen for the area and the thickness of the fat layer, contact cooling throughout, and stopping the energy at once if you report excessive heat, while the handpiece stays on the skin to keep cooling it. Treating many areas in one visit can leave some people tired or feverish afterwards, which is one reason the number of areas per visit is planned at assessment. Any bruise, nodule or blister that does not settle is reviewed at the clinic.

What recovery looks like after Onda Pro

The sequence below describes phases, not a timetable: how quickly each passes depends on the settings used, the area and the person, and is discussed at consultation.

  1. Immediately afterWarmth, redness, swelling and tenderness in the treated area, sometimes with itching or a firm feeling under the skin.
  2. The first eveningDrink water and avoid heat, alcohol and strenuous exercise; some people feel tired after several areas are treated.
  3. The following daysRedness and swelling settle; a bruise or small nodule that can be felt beneath the skin is less common and settles.
  4. As the skin settlesFat is cleared and collagen remodels gradually, so contour changes develop over the following weeks rather than on the day.
  5. Follow-upAny bruise, nodule or blister that does not settle is reviewed at the clinic, and the next area or visit is planned at assessment.
Onda Pro compared with other energy-based body and face options on the page
OptionWhat it doesWhat it cannot doWhat to expect afterwardsWho it tends to suit
Onda Pro (Coolwaves microwave)Microwave at 2.45 GHz, preferentially absorbed by fat, acting on fat cell membranes, septa and dermal collagen.Not laser or radiofrequency; not a substitute for surgery where descent is structural.Warmth, redness, swelling and tenderness that settle; follow-up is planned at assessment.Localised fat, cellulite or skin laxity on the body.
Onda lifting (face)A finer handpiece directs energy at dermal collagen at shallower depth on the lower face and jawline.Does not introduce anything into the face or replace surgery for structural descent.Warmth and redness that settle; discussed at consultation.Facial laxity rather than volume loss or fat, decided at examination.
4K Body Lift (radiofrequency on Secret Duo)Applies radiofrequency to resistant fat deposits and the skin over them.Places energy in a different tissue layer from microwave, so it does not replace it.Redness, warmth and bruising are possible; discussed at consultation.Resistant body fat where radiofrequency is the better match.
HIFU or Ultherapy (focused ultrasound)Converges energy at a precise depth, typically the SMAS layer, to create discrete coagulation points.Does not spread energy across a volume of fat the way microwave does.Discussed at consultation, once the area and plan are assessed.Presentations where the objective is structural lift.
Thermage (monopolar radiofrequency)Deposits energy in the dermis for skin tightening.Does not follow the fat-directed absorption that characterises microwave.Discussed at consultation, once the area and plan are assessed.Skin tightening where dermal collagen is the target.

Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on

Tends to suit

  • Localised fat deposits on the abdomen, flanks, thighs or arms
  • Cellulite with a dimpled surface from fibrous septa
  • Mild skin laxity on the lower face, jawline or submental area
  • A clear, assessed picture of fat or laxity rather than volume loss

Better to wait

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • A rash, infection, bruise or wound in the area
  • An expectation of surgical-level change

Referred on

  • Structural descent or heavy skin excess → plastic surgery specialist for surgical assessment
  • Medical conditions on the contraindication list → physician review before any plan
Who should not have this treatment
  • Pacemaker or other heart implant, deep brain or sacral nerve stimulator, or heart failure
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Current cancer or cancer treated in the past five years
  • Clotting disorder, active vein inflammation, organ transplant, kidney or liver failure, or poorly controlled diabetes
  • Rash, infection, bruise or wound in the treatment area
  • Reduced sensation in the area, since the session relies on reporting heat

People expecting surgical-level lifting or large-scale fat removal, or those with a pacemaker or other listed condition, are not suited to Onda Pro.

Before you book

What determines the fee

The fee depends on the area treated (for example abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, submental area or face), the handpiece used, the number of zones, and whether Onda Pro is combined with another treatment such as radiofrequency body work. A written quote is given at consultation after Dr Sin Yong has taken a medical history and examined the area. The consultation also decides whether Onda Pro is advised at all, or whether another approach suits the concern better.

How quotes work at this practice: how we quote.

Myths we hear in clinic

“Onda Pro is just another radiofrequency or laser treatment.”

It uses microwave energy at 2.45 GHz, which is absorbed differently from radiofrequency and laser light.

“Treating the fat is the same as treating cellulite.”

Cellulite dimpling comes from fibrous septa, a different structure from the fat volume, so fat-only treatment rarely changes surface texture.

Onda Pro — Frequently Asked Questions

Onda is a treatment platform made by DEKA, the Italian medical laser manufacturer. It works with microwave energy rather than laser light or radiofrequency, using a patented delivery DEKA calls Coolwaves. Onda Pro is the current configuration, which adds a finer handpiece for work on the face.

Onda lifting refers to using the platform on the face rather than the body. The target changes: instead of a fat compartment, the energy is directed at dermal collagen at a shallower depth with tighter control. It is non-surgical and involves no incision.

Three tissues. Subcutaneous fat, through the membranes of the fat cells. Cellulite, through the connective septa between adipose lobules whose tethering produces the dimpled surface. And skin laxity, through a dermal collagen response. On the body the areas most often treated are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms and the submental region; on the face, the lower face and jawline.

Frequency determines where energy is absorbed. Radiofrequency deposits much of its energy in the dermis and epidermis. Microwave energy at 2.45 GHz is preferentially taken up by adipose tissue, so proportionally more of it reaches the subcutaneous fat layer. Neither is a substitute for the other; they place energy in different tissue layers.

Different mechanisms, different targets. HIFU and Ultherapy use focused ultrasound, converging energy at a precise depth to create discrete coagulation points, typically at the SMAS layer, for structural lift. Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency for dermal tightening. Onda uses microwave energy absorbed across a volume of adipose tissue. Which is appropriate depends on whether the presentation is one of laxity, volume or fat, and that is decided by examination rather than by preference for a device.

A contact cooling system holds the skin surface down while energy is delivered beneath it, and most patients describe the sensation as a deep warmth. Tolerance varies between individuals and between treatment areas, and comfort is discussed and managed during the session.

How long an Onda Pro result lasts varies, and no honest figure can be given in advance. Fat cells acted on by the energy do not return, but surrounding tissue continues to age, and body weight, hormonal factors and lifestyle all influence what follows. Longevity is discussed at consultation in the context of your own circumstances rather than quoted as a number.

As with any energy-based treatment there can be transient warmth, redness or tenderness in the treated area. Suitability is assessed in person beforehand, and Onda is not appropriate for every patient or every presentation — metal implants in the treatment field, pregnancy and certain medical conditions are among the things excluded at assessment.

Onda Pro is one of four DEKA platforms in Dr Sin Yong's range, alongside the TORO, RedTouch Pro and Tetra Pro CO2 systems. The clinic is a certified DEKA Centre of Excellence. Consultations are by appointment on Orchard Road.

It is the frequency of the electromagnetic energy delivered. 2.45 GHz sits in a band reserved internationally for industrial, scientific and medical use, and energy at this frequency heats tissue directly as it passes through, rather than through electrical resistance as radiofrequency does. In Onda Pro, DEKA's Coolwaves delivery pairs it with contact cooling of the skin surface, so proportionally more of the energy reaches the subcutaneous fat layer than the dermis.

Not quite. Coolwaves is DEKA's name for the patented way the Onda platform delivers 2.45 GHz microwave energy, combined with contact cooling of the skin. Onda is the device, and Onda Pro is its current configuration, which adds a finer handpiece for the face. When a clinic refers to Coolwaves treatment, it is describing Onda.

The fee depends on the area treated, the handpiece used, the number of zones and whether Onda Pro is combined with another treatment. A written quote is given at consultation, after Dr Sin Yong has taken a medical history and examined the area. The consultation decides whether treatment is advised at all, and no price is set beforehand.

It is worth considering for localised fat, cellulite or mild laxity where assessment shows the concern is fat or laxity rather than volume loss, and where you prefer a non-incisional approach. It is a poorer fit for structural descent, large skin excess, or anyone with a pacemaker or other listed condition.

No duration can be promised. Longevity depends on the area and tissue treated, the type of fat and skin present, weight changes, ageing and lifestyle, and collagen remodelling continues over the weeks that follow. Review timing and any further treatment are set at consultation, once your response to treatment has been assessed.

It is heat-based, so it causes warmth, redness and swelling, and less often bruising, nodules or burns. It is not used with a pacemaker, in pregnancy or with several other conditions. It does not add volume or replace surgery for structural descent, and a plan may need more than one treatment type.

Question not answered here? Ask on WhatsApp, use the enquiry form, or browse 100 questions patients ask.

Where Dr Sin Yong consults: Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, Singapore 238880 (unit on booking) · Orchard MRT · Mon–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat 11am–3pm · WhatsApp +65 8023 7170 · Getting here · How fees are quoted
Explore Further
DEKA Centre of Excellence

The certification, and the four DEKA platforms in clinical use.
4K Body Lift

Radiofrequency contouring for resistant fat and overlying skin.
Sagging Tummy

Assessment and planning for abdominal laxity and fat.
HIFU

Focused ultrasound lifting at SMAS depth.
Thermage

Monopolar radiofrequency for dermal tightening.
SAM Conference 2026

Dr Sin Yong on microwave technology for body contouring.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong, MBBS (NUS), MRCS (Edinburgh) · Last updated 7 October 2026 · Editorial policy

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