Onda Coolwaves in London: what microwave fat reduction can and cannot do
Reviewed By
Dr Vishal Patel
BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry Manchester · GDC 103127 · AACD Member · Invisalign Diamond II Provider · IFAAS (International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science) · Facial anatomy & cadaver course, Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy foundation training in injectable aesthetics · IBSA-trained (Profhilo) · NeoStrata-trained (skin peels) · Lynton Lasers trained, incl. ONDA
Last Updated
September 9, 2026
The device we chose, the results it genuinely gives, and the cases where we say no
Onda Coolwaves is a non-surgical body treatment that uses targeted microwave energy to heat and break down localised fat, soften cellulite and tighten mild skin laxity, with no effect on the overlying skin surface and no downtime. At Dental & Wellness London in Islington we offer Onda at £300 per session, typically across a plan of four to six sessions, quoted in writing first.
Onda body treatments at Dental & Wellness London are delivered by a trained clinician under the clinical governance of Dr Vishal Patel, BDS, MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry, GDC 103127. Onda is a non-prescription, device-based treatment.
Reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS (Liverpool) · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester) · GDC 103127 · AACD Member. Last reviewed 8 June 2026.
Heading
- Microwave technology — selective fat reduction + cellulite improvement + mild skin tightening
- Non-invasive — no needles, no incisions, minimal downtime
- Multi-session protocol: 4–6 sessions, 1–2 weeks apart
- £300 per session · course of four £1,020 (15% off) with an online personal training session
- Treatable: abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, upper arms, submental area
- Not a weight-loss treatment — for localised fat on a stable frame
- Realistic expectations: gradual, proportionate results over 8–12 weeks
What Onda Coolwaves Actually Does
Onda delivers focused microwave energy — the technology the manufacturer calls Coolwaves — that passes through the skin and is absorbed selectively by fat cells beneath it. The energy heats those cells enough to damage them; the body then clears the damaged cells gradually over the following weeks, the same way it clears fat lost through any other route. The skin surface is cooled and protected throughout, which is why there is no wound, no dressing and no real downtime.
In practice it does three things, and it helps to keep them separate.
Localised fat
This is Onda's primary job — discrete pockets that sit on an otherwise stable frame and do not shift with diet or training: the lower abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, the upper arms, the area under the chin. Onda reduces the volume of fat in the treated area over a course; it does not change your weight on the scale meaningfully, and it should not.
Cellulite
The microwave energy also affects the fibrous structure and surface texture associated with cellulite, which is why many patients notice a smoother appearance alongside the volume change. This is an improvement in texture, told honestly — not an erasure. If cellulite rather than fat volume is the thing that troubles you most, our cellulite treatment page sets out how we think about texture specifically and where Onda fits among the options.
Mild skin laxity
Because the energy generates heat in the deeper tissue, there is a modest tightening effect. The word that matters there is mild. If skin laxity is your real concern, Onda is a supporting act, not the lead — and we will tell you so.
Fat or laxity — the assessment we run first
The single most useful thing we do at the Onda consultation is decide, with you, which tissue is the genuine problem. A simple pinch-and-lift assessment usually settles it. If the tissue is soft and pinchable and sits as a defined pocket, that is fat, and Onda has something to offer. If the tissue is thin and crèpey and the issue is the skin's own slackness, fat reduction will not help and may even make laxity look worse — in which case the honest conversation is about skin tightening instead, and you can read how we think about those options on our page comparing HIFU, radiofrequency and microwave skin tightening. Getting that right before any energy is delivered is the difference between a result and a disappointment. This is also where a surgical training background quietly earns its place — understanding tissue planes and how they relate to vital structures around the neck and jaw when we treat the submental area comes from anatomy that runs deeper than a device manual.
Onda alongside the rest of you
Fat reduction in isolation rarely tells the whole story, and as an integrative clinic we are unusually placed to say so. A pocket of stubborn fat sits inside a wider picture — diet, movement, sleep, stress and the hormonal weather that governs where the body stores fat in the first place. Onda can reduce a specific area; it cannot out-treat a pattern that keeps replacing it. For patients who want the result to last, we often pair a course of Onda with nutritional support from our nutritional therapist and sensible movement. We compare Onda directly against the main alternatives on our Onda vs CoolSculpting and Onda vs Morpheus8 pages if you are weighing devices.
What results look like, and when
People searching for Onda before-and-after photographs are really asking a fair question: is this real, and what should I expect of my own body? The honest answer is that the change is gradual and proportionate rather than dramatic. Because Onda damages fat cells that the body then clears over the following weeks, there is no overnight result. The contour of a treated pocket softens across the course and for a few weeks after the final session — most patients judge their result honestly somewhere between eight and twelve weeks from the start of treatment.
We are deliberately careful with before-and-after imagery. UK advertising rules and our own standards mean we do not parade dramatic comparison photos as a selling device. If Onda is one of several fat-reduction routes you are weighing, our overview of non-surgical fat removal sets the methods side by side. Results last in the sense that cleared fat cells do not regenerate — they do not last in the sense of being immune to weight gain, which is why the patients who keep their result treat Onda as a finishing tool on a stable frame rather than a shortcut around diet and movement.
Body contouring: more in this group
Related: non-surgical face lift, laser hair removal.
Further reading
Assessed first
Whole-system view
No pressure
We say no often — on body work, "this won't help you" is a sentence we say more than most clinics find comfortable.
| Full Treatment Course 4-6 sessions · £300 per session |
Each session uses Onda Coolwaves microwave technology to target fat cells in the treated area. Sessions are spaced 1-2 weeks apart. The body clears damaged fat cells gradually over the following weeks, with results becoming apparent 8-12 weeks from the start of treatment. No downtime — you can resume normal activities immediately after each session. |
Before and After
Transparent pricing
Prices are set out below. Your written plan confirms the fee before any treatment begins.
| Metric | Price (Per Session) |
|---|---|
| Per Session | £300 |
| Full Course (4-6 Sessions) | Quoted in writing at consultation |
0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
Our happy patients,
in their own words
Questions
people ask
If your question isn't answered here, call reception on 020 8127 4567 or email reception.
Is Onda Coolwaves a weight-loss treatment?
No. Onda reduces fat volume in a specific treated area; it does not meaningfully change your weight and is not a substitute for diet, movement or medical weight management. It is a contouring treatment for defined pockets that do not respond to those things, used on a stable frame.
Does Onda hurt, and is there downtime?
Most patients describe a warming sensation and find it comfortable. Because the skin surface is protected and there is no incision, there is essentially no downtime — you can return to normal activity straight away. Mild redness or warmth in the area afterwards is normal and settles quickly.
When will I see Onda results, and how long do they last?
The treated fat cells clear gradually, so results build over the weeks following each session and continue developing across the course. Fat cells cleared do not return, but remaining cells can still enlarge with weight gain — which is why lasting results belong to patients who pair Onda with a stable diet and activity pattern.
How many Onda sessions will I need?
Typically four to six per area, though this depends on the area and what you are trying to achieve. We assess this properly at consultation and quote the whole plan in writing, rather than commit you open-endedly.
Will Onda tighten loose skin or remove cellulite completely?
Onda gives a mild tightening effect and can improve the texture associated with cellulite, but it is primarily a fat-reduction treatment. If loose skin is your main concern, we will tell you honestly that a dedicated skin-tightening approach suits you better.
Who carries out Onda treatments at the clinic?
Onda is delivered by a trained clinician under the clinical governance of our founder, Dr Vishal Patel. Onda is a device-based treatment, not a prescription medicine, so it does not require a prescriber — but it does require careful case selection, which is where our assessment comes in.
How does Onda compare to HIFU?
They do different jobs. ONDA uses microwave energy to reduce stubborn fat on the body, such as the abdomen, flanks and thighs. HIFU uses focused ultrasound for deeper skin tightening on the face and neck. We offer ONDA at £300 per session; we do not offer HIFU. For facial tightening we use Lynton laser lift and tighten, from £195.
How is Onda different from Coolsculpting?
Different mechanism (heat vs cold). Onda doesn't carry the PAH risk associated with Coolsculpting. Outcome profile similar; safety profile lacks PAH-specific complication. See /compare/onda-vs-coolsculpting/ for detail.
Book an honest Onda assessment
If you have a stubborn area that hasn't shifted with diet or training, book an assessment. We'll tell you honestly whether Onda is the right tool for it — and quote the full plan in writing before you commit.
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