ONDA PRO and CoolSculpting both work on fat beneath the skin without surgery, but one uses controlled heat and the other controlled cold. ONDA PRO sends 2.45GHz Coolwaves® microwaves into subcutaneous fat and the fibrous tissue linked to cellulite while the surface stays cool. CoolSculpting cools pinchable fat pockets until the fat cells break down. A physician assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby decides suitability.
| ONDA PRO | CoolSculpting | |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | Heat from 2.45GHz microwaves (Coolwaves®, by DEKA) | Controlled cooling (cryolipolysis) |
| What is targeted | Subcutaneous fat and the fibrous septae linked to cellulite's dimpled look | Localized, pinchable fat pockets |
| How energy is applied | Handpiece glides over the skin; three handpieces for three depths | Applicator sits over the area on a protective gel pad for a cooling cycle |
| How it feels | Warmth building below, often compared to a warm stone massage | Intense cold at first, then numbness; brief tingling during the massage afterwards |
| Areas on Skin Art MD's pages | Abdomen and flanks, thighs and buttocks, upper arms, inner knee, under the chin, cheeks | Abdomen, flanks, upper arms, thighs, under the chin |
| Cellulite appearance | A stated focus | Not a stated focus |
| After the visit | Most resume normal activities the same day; no compression garment | Most resume most activities the same day; redness, bruising or swelling possible |
| Weight loss? | No, contouring by area | No, contouring by area |
Why would heat and cold both affect fat?
Both work because fat cells respond to temperature differently from the skin around them. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than other tissues, which is the principle behind cryolipolysis: the targeted cells crystallize and go through programmed cell death while the skin and nerves are protected. With ONDA PRO, the microwave frequency passes the skin's surface and releases controlled heat at a set depth in the fat and fibrous tissue, so the target warms while the surface is kept cool.
In both cases, the body then processes the affected tissue gradually, which is why neither result appears on the day.
What does each one actually target?
ONDA PRO targets fat and the fibrous bands around it, while CoolSculpting targets a defined bulge of fat. That difference explains why cellulite is part of the ONDA PRO conversation. The dimpled look of cellulite is associated with fibrous septae that tether the skin; heating those structures along with the fat is what the device is designed to do.
CoolSculpting is aimed at pinchable fat, such as a lower-belly bulge, flanks or a fuller area under the chin, that has not shifted with diet and exercise. The applicator needs tissue it can sit over, so skin quality and the shape of the area matter. Significant skin laxity or hanging skin in the area points the discussion elsewhere.
How is the energy applied to the body?
ONDA PRO is a moving treatment, while CoolSculpting is a stationary one. With ONDA PRO, gel is applied and the handpiece glides over the marked area, with warmth building below and radiating upward. Energy is adjusted to feedback. Three handpieces focus heat at three different depths, so large body areas and smaller areas such as the submental area are treated differently. On the face and neck, Skin Art MD's page notes that only the submental area and cheeks are treated, keeping off the jawbone itself.
With CoolSculpting, the zone is marked, a protective gel pad is placed, and the applicator is positioned for the cooling cycle. The person rests during the cycle, reading or watching something, and a short massage follows.
What does each visit involve at the Metrotown clinic?
Both visits start with an assessment by the medical team, then differ in rhythm. Before ONDA PRO, the team works through the manufacturer's assessment: subcutaneous versus visceral fat, cellulite grade, skin laxity, and palpation for fibrosis and tenderness. Standardised before photos are taken and weight and circumference recorded, so progress is measured. Plans usually run as a short series spaced weeks apart.
Before CoolSculpting, fat distribution and skin quality are evaluated to plan applicator placement. Some people see a change after one treatment, and an additional session may be discussed depending on the area. Skin Art MD is at #101 – 4378 Beresford St, Burnaby, near Metrotown SkyTrain Station.
How do the days afterwards compare?
Most people go back to their day after either treatment, but the aftercare differs. After ONDA PRO, the clinic's aftercare asks people to keep drinking water, massage the area as directed, avoid strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours (walking is fine), avoid alcohol for a few days, and protect the area from direct sun.
After CoolSculpting, mild redness, bruising, swelling, tingling or numbness can occur and usually settle on their own. The clinic's aftercare asks people to avoid strenuous exercise and saunas or hot tubs for the first 24 hours. Change from either treatment develops over the following weeks to months and varies by person.
Is either one a weight-loss treatment?
No, both are body-contouring treatments for specific areas, usually discussed with people at a stable weight. With CoolSculpting, treated fat cells are cleared by the body, but remaining fat cells can still change with weight, so a stable weight helps hold the contour. ONDA PRO is likewise planned around a stable weight. Medical weight management is a separate conversation at the clinic.
Who needs a physician review before either one?
Some conditions rule out one or both, so screening comes first. For ONDA PRO, Skin Art MD's page lists pregnancy or breastfeeding (including up to 10 months after delivery), heart conditions or electronic implants, cancer in the past five years, severe vascular or clotting disorders, a hernia in the area, kidney or liver dysfunction and uncontrolled diabetes. For CoolSculpting, it lists pregnancy or breastfeeding, cold-sensitive conditions such as cryoglobulinemia or cold agglutinin disease, significant skin laxity, and an open wound, infection or hernia in the zone.
Can they be combined?
They can be planned together, usually on different areas or at different stages rather than on the same spot on the same day. For example, a plan might address a pinchable abdominal bulge with cooling and cellulite on the thighs with ONDA PRO. Either may also be sequenced with skin-tightening or muscle-building treatments such as Emsculpt. Order and spacing are set after assessment.
How is the choice made?
The choice is made at an assessment at Skin Art MD in Burnaby, led by the clinic's physicians under Medical Director Dr. Charles Jiang. The deciding factors are what the area is made of (pinchable fat, fibrous cellulite or laxity), how the area is shaped, the person's medical history, and whether they prefer a gliding warm treatment or a stationary cold one. Consultations are available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
What else do people ask about ONDA PRO and CoolSculpting?
These are the shorter questions that come up most often.
Does either one need needles or anaesthesia?
No. Both are non-invasive and applied on the surface of the skin.
Which one is used for a double chin?
Both list the submental area. Which suits a particular chin depends on how much is fat versus laxity, which is assessed in person.
Do treated fat cells come back?
Treated fat cells are cleared by the body, but the remaining ones can expand with weight gain. How much reduction a person sees varies.
Is ONDA PRO the same as radiofrequency?
No. It uses a microwave frequency, 2.45GHz, which DEKA developed in Italy and introduced in 2018.
When will a change show?
Change appears gradually over the weeks after treatment as the body processes the treated tissue. Timing varies by area and person.
When is the clinic open?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, closed Mondays. Phone +1 (604) 639-2581.
Written by the Skin Art MD clinical team as general information about how these treatments work and what a visit involves. It is not medical advice; suitability is decided at a physician assessment.
