Why OLIGIO KISS puts two things into one device
OLIGIO KISS is not a device working on a new principle but two existing devices put into one body — the monopolar radiofrequency device OLIGIO and the focused ultrasound system Ultraskin Tightan. So the most accurate way to understand it is to look at each of the two axes that were combined. On the radiofrequency axis, OLIGIO has a study at Chungnam National University Hospital that followed 20 people for 24 weeks — sagging of the jawline and the nasolabial area improved significantly at 12 weeks and cheek firmness from week 4, pain without anaesthetic cream was 0.4 out of 10, and there was not a single burn or scar.
The conclusion, first
OLIGIO KISS is a product that holds radiofrequency and ultrasound in one device. WONTECH Co., Ltd. obtained the licence of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on 1 September 2023, under the licensed name The Great RF Sonata. It is the existing monopolar radiofrequency device The Oligio and the focused ultrasound system Ultraskin Tightan fused and licensed as a single product, and the point of it is that the two methods can be used one after the other, by region and by skin condition, without changing devices. For the radiofrequency axis, OLIGIO, there is a study in humans — 20 women, one session, assessed blind at 4 · 12 · 24 weeks by three dermatologists not involved in the treatment, with sagging of the jawline · nasolabial area significantly improved at 12 weeks and cheek firmness increasing significantly on instrument measurement from week 4 through to week 24 (p < 0.01). Pain was a mean of 0.4 without anaesthetic cream, and burns · skin injury · scarring were zero (Cosmetics 2024, Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, no external funding). On the safety of treating with both methods together there are records of 272 people across four studies, one of which confirmed a significant increase in collagen fibres through the full thickness of the dermis on biopsy 20 weeks after treatment. To add the honest qualification, though, no human study of OLIGIO KISS itself, the finished product, has yet been published — the figures above are for the two axes that were combined.
What was combined
The name OLIGIO KISS is a brand name; the name under which it is licensed in Korea is The Great RF Sonata. WONTECH Co., Ltd. obtained the licence on 1 September 2023 and announced it on 4 September.
Two things were combined. One is The Oligio, which works by monopolar radiofrequency (RF); the other is the focused ultrasound (HIFU) system Ultraskin Tightan. Both had been sold separately before this, and KISS is the two of them put into one body and licensed as a single product.
| Axis | How it works | Original product name |
|---|---|---|
| Radiofrequency | Monopolar RF — a broad electrode heats the dermis and the layer beneath it | The Oligio |
| Ultrasound | HIFU — ultrasound is focused to a point to create coagulation points at a set depth | Ultraskin Tightan |
| The combination | Both methods used one after the other from a single body | The Great RF Sonata (OLIGIO KISS) |
So the most accurate way to judge this device is to look at the two axes separately. Below we begin with the radiofrequency axis, where the material is thickest.
What OLIGIO confirmed — 20 people, 24 weeks
The radiofrequency axis, OLIGIO, has a study in humans carried out with the product named. It was done in the Department of Dermatology at Chungnam National University College of Medicine and published in Cosmetics in 2024.
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Subjects | 20 women · 42–60 years · mean 47.95 ± 6.02 years |
| Treatment | One session · 2 × 2 cm tip · 6.78 MHz · 600 shots (cheek · lower temple 400, chin 100, periorbital 100) · 36.60 ± 2.46 kJ in total |
| Assessment | Three dermatologists not involved in the treatment, assessing blind |
| Time points | Before treatment · 4 weeks · 12 weeks · 24 weeks |
| Measurement | Indentometer · skin imaging analyser (Mark-Vu) |
| Funding | No external funding · the authors declared no conflicts of interest |
Two of the results were statistically significant.
| Item | Time point | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sagging of the jawline · nasolabial area | 12 weeks | Significant improvement, held through to 24 weeks |
| Cheek firmness (instrument-measured) | From week 4 | Significantly increased at 4 · 12 · 24 weeks (p < 0.01) |
That cheek firmness moved from week 4 is the part of this study worth noting. Change after a radiofrequency treatment is usually spoken of in terms of two or three months, because of the time it takes for collagen to be rebuilt; the firmness measured by instrument responded earlier than that.
Who the subjects were should be read alongside it. The 20 people in this study had grade 1–2 sagging, that is, mild or moderate (13 mild, 7 moderate). What happens where sagging is severe is not answered by this study.
Pain and safety
In the same study pain was a mean of 0.4 with no anaesthetic cream applied (0–10). There was not a single burn, skin injury or scar.
It is worth knowing, though, that this 0.4 is among the lowest pain figures published for radiofrequency. Other studies report values such as 3–4 on a 10-point scale, or a VAS of 3.7. Pain depends as much on the output setting and the way the treatment is given as on the device. If it hurts during the treatment, better not to endure it — please say so straight away, and the intensity can be lowered.
On ‘shots’, the number by which the amount of a radiofrequency treatment is counted, we have written separately in how many shots should I have. The point is that the same shot count is a different amount with a different tip.
Why two things were put into one device
On this question there is a record of the manufacturer answering directly. In an English-language interview the head of WONTECH prefaced the combining of radiofrequency and ultrasound in one device with the caveat that “it may not seem groundbreaking”, and then explained that what it does is make buying simpler for doctors — “it simplifies the purchasing process for doctors”.
That is, the reason the manufacturer gave is not a leap in treatment performance but convenience and efficiency. This is not said to belittle it. It is an advantage that genuinely counts in the consulting room — if you can choose the method region by region and carry straight on without changing devices, the treatment goes faster and the patient spends less time shifting position or waiting.
Separately, WONTECH chairman Kim Jong-won said at the time of the 2023 licence that this was “something only WONTECH, which holds both of the source technologies, can do”, and spoke alongside it of widening the supply of Korean-made medical devices and of replacing imported products.
In sum, the value of this device lies not in “combined, it is stronger” but in “both methods can be used in one place”. That is how the manufacturer itself explains it, and that is the line on which we speak of it too.
The material on using radiofrequency and ultrasound together
Treating with both methods together existed before OLIGIO KISS appeared, and material on it has accumulated. What is confirmed most consistently is safety.
| Study | Size | Adverse events reported |
|---|---|---|
| Kwon et al., 2018 (Korea) | 22 people | No serious adverse events |
| Hugul et al., 2021 (Turkey) | 158 people | No serious adverse events · satisfaction 4.61/5 |
| Khong et al., 2024 (Malaysia) | 56 people | Transient erythema in all · no burns · oedema · numbness · muscle weakness |
| Lee et al., 2023 (Soonchunhyang University) | 36 people | Mild erythema · oedema, all resolved within 2 days · no pigmentary change · no nerve abnormality |
| Total | 272 people | No serious adverse events reported in any of the four |
And one of them went as far as histology. The 2018 study by Kwon et al. gave radiofrequency first and ultrasound after it, then took a biopsy at 20 weeks and confirmed a significant increase in collagen fibres through the full thickness of the dermis (P < 0.05). Improvement of 25% or more was reported in 19 of the 22 (90%).
So on the question “does collagen actually increase when radiofrequency and ultrasound are used together”, there is material confirmed in human tissue. That study, however, was a single-arm study with no separate arm for either method alone, so what was confirmed is “collagen increased after the combined treatment”, not “the combination is better than either alone”.
Worth knowing before the treatment
- Look at the timing of the change in two strands. Instrument-measured cheek firmness became significant from week 4; the jawline · nasolabial sagging that is judged by eye, at 12 weeks. What is visible immediately after the treatment is mostly swelling.
- What the study answered for is sagging that is mild or moderate. Where sagging has progressed a long way, radiofrequency · ultrasound alone may not reach the goal, and it is better then to discuss other approaches alongside.
- A shot count is a number that cannot be compared unless the tip is named with it. If the tip size differs from clinic to clinic, the same 600 shots is a different amount.
- We avoid the thyroid area at the front of the neck. The same goes for the paths the nerves run along. This is an item checked before the treatment.
- Aftercare is set out separately in aftercare following RF treatment.
In summary — what is confirmed and what is not yet
Confirmed
- OLIGIO significantly improved jawline · nasolabial sagging at 12 weeks and cheek firmness from week 4 (p < 0.01) in 20 women · one session · 24 weeks of follow-up.
- In the same study pain was 0.4 with no anaesthetic cream and burns · scarring were zero, and it was carried out with no external funding.
- Combined radiofrequency · ultrasound treatment had no serious adverse events reported across four papers and 272 people.
- After combined treatment, a significant increase in collagen fibres through the full thickness of the dermis was confirmed in human tissue (Kwon 2018, 22 people, 20 weeks).
- OLIGIO KISS obtained the licence of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on 1 September 2023, under the licensed name The Great RF Sonata.
Inferred
- Using both methods one after the other from a single device shortens the treatment and the waiting. This follows naturally from the mechanism, and the manufacturer explains it that way too.
- It is reasonable to apply the results for OLIGIO itself to the radiofrequency axis of KISS — it is the same radiofrequency technology from the same company. This is an inference, though, not a measurement.
What we could not confirm
- A study in humans of OLIGIO KISS itself, the finished product — we looked through the medical literature databases and the clinical trial registries but were unable to confirm one. Every figure set down above is for the two axes that were combined.
- The Korean licence number for OLIGIO KISS — the Ministry’s lookup screen does not allow an automated query, so we could not confirm it. We confirmed the licence date (1 September 2023) and the licensed name, and no further.
- Treatment intervals and how often to repeat — every study we confirmed was either a single session or an observation over a set number of sessions, and we did not find a study comparing “how many months later should it be had again”.
- Material beyond 24 weeks — the longest follow-up is 24 weeks. What comes after that is unknown.
Material pointing the other way
- In the OLIGIO study, pores · fine lines · skin tone showed no statistical difference from before the treatment at any of the four time points. What this device improved is sagging and firmness, not skin texture.
- A study testing by randomised · controlled · blinded design that combining radiofrequency and ultrasound is better than either one alone is one we were unable to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OLIGIO and OLIGIO KISS?
OLIGIO is a monopolar radiofrequency device, and OLIGIO KISS is that radiofrequency with focused ultrasound added, put into one body. No new principle was added; two existing devices were combined. So for the radiofrequency part you can read the OLIGIO study.
When does the effect start to show?
In the study, cheek firmness measured by instrument improved significantly from week 4 and jawline and nasolabial sagging judged by eye at 12 weeks, and it held through to 24 weeks. What is visible in the days right after the treatment is mostly swelling, so it is more accurate to judge two or three months later.
Does it hurt?
One study reported a mean of 0.4 (0–10) with no anaesthetic cream applied. Other studies, though, report figures in the 3–4 range, so it varies with the output setting and the way the treatment is given. If there is pain during the treatment, please do not endure it — tell us, and we adjust the intensity.
Are there no side effects?
In the 20 people of the OLIGIO study, burns · skin injury · scarring were zero, and across the four papers and 272 people treated with radiofrequency and ultrasound together no serious adverse events were reported. What is common is transient redness and mild swelling, which usually settles within a day or two. No treatment carries zero risk, however, so we treat while avoiding the thyroid area and the paths the nerves run along.
How many sessions do I need?
Most of the studies we confirmed were single sessions. And we did not find a study comparing “repeating it every so many months is better”. So rather than give a fixed answer on the number, it is better to look at the change two or three months after the first session and decide together.
Are 600 shots enough?
What the study used was 600 shots with a 2 × 2 cm tip. But the same shot count is a different amount if the tip size differs, so a shot count given without naming the tip cannot be compared between clinics. The detail is set out in how many shots should I have.
Does it improve skin texture or pores as well?
In that study, pores · fine lines · skin tone showed no statistical difference from before the treatment at any of the four time points. What this device improved is sagging and firmness. Skin texture and pores need a different approach.
Is there no study result for OLIGIO KISS itself?
We did not find one. We checked the medical literature databases and the clinical trial registries, but no published human study of this finished product was confirmed. What exists is the study of OLIGIO, the radiofrequency axis, and studies of combined radiofrequency · ultrasound treatment in general. So those two are as far as we go in what we set down as evidence.
My sagging is severe. Will this treatment do it?
The 20 people in the study were people whose sagging was mild or moderate. What happens where sagging has progressed a long way is not answered by that study. In such a case it is better to look first at the character of the laxity in an examination and then decide the method — booster or lifting may help as a reference.
How does it differ from other radiofrequency devices?
Monopolar radiofrequency as a method is the same family, and devices differ in frequency · tip · cooling. Studies comparing devices against each other directly are very rare. The differences by family are set out in radiofrequency lifting devices compared and monopolar and bipolar.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by Lee Chi-Hak, MD, medical director of Miso Clinic in Daegu, South Korea. Every study cited above is given together with its design, its size and the limitations the authors themselves recorded, and where we could not find data, we have said that we could not find any.
| Medical director | Lee Chi-Hak, MD |
|---|---|
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References
- The study in humans of OLIGIO itself — Shin J, Sung Y, Jin S, Hwang C-L, Kim H, Hong D, Jung KE, Seo Y-J, Lee Y. Efficacy and Safety of Monopolar Radiofrequency for Tightening the Skin of Aged Faces. Cosmetics 2024;11(3):71, DOI 10.3390/cosmetics11030071 (full text confirmed). Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine. Prospective · assessor-blinded · single-arm (no control group), 20 women (42–60 years, mean 47.95 ± 6.02 years), one session, 4 · 12 · 24 weeks. Device given as “Oligio; WONTECH Co., Ltd., Daejeon”, 2 × 2 cm tip, 6.78 MHz, 600 shots (cheek · lower temple 400 · chin 100 · periorbital 100), 36.60 ± 2.46 kJ in total, intensity 3.80 ± 0.41. Jawline · nasolabial sagging significantly improved at 12 weeks, cheek firmness significantly increased from week 4 through to week 24 (p < 0.01), pain a mean of 0.4/10 (no anaesthetic cream), burns · skin injury · scarring zero. Pores · fine lines · skin tone showed no statistical difference from before the treatment at any of the four time points (pores 57.15 ± 5.67 → 55.70 ± 4.95, and so on). Subjects were grade 1–2 sagging only (13 mild · 7 moderate). “This research received no external funding.”, “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.” IRB CNUH 2021-10-012. Limits — no control group · 20 people · women only · one session · out to 24 weeks. The paper carries no statement as to whether WONTECH supplied the device. This paper is cited in how many shots should I have as well.
- The fact of the OLIGIO KISS licence — WONTECH Co., Ltd. obtained the licence of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on 1 September 2023 and announced it on 4 September. Licensed name The Great RF Sonata. A product fusing the monopolar radiofrequency The Oligio and the focused ultrasound Ultraskin Tightan. A launch symposium was held on 24 February 2024 under the brand name OLIGIO KISS. Sources — multiple outlets carrying the same press release of 4 September 2023 (Pharm News, Newswire, MedicalTimes, Beautynury) and the launch reports of 26 February 2024. Chairman Kim Jong-won’s remark, “something only WONTECH, which holds both of the source technologies, can do”. We could not confirm the Korean licence number — the Ministry’s lookup screen asks for a captcha, so an automated query does not go through.
- The reason for the combination as given by the manufacturer — English-language interview with the head of WONTECH (Reno Kim), theworldfolio.com. On combining radiofrequency and ultrasound in one device, he prefaced it with the caveat that “it may not seem groundbreaking” and then explained that “it simplifies the purchasing process for doctors”. That is, the reason the manufacturer put forward is not a leap in treatment performance but convenience and efficiency. Note — the subject of this interview is OligioX, and the speaker is a different person from chairman Kim Jong-won above.
- The histological grounds for combining radiofrequency · ultrasound — Kwon HH et al. Combined treatment for skin laxity of the aging face with monopolar radiofrequency and intense focused ultrasound in Korean subjects. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 2018;20(7-8):449–453, PMID 29469595. 22 people · single arm · no control group, radiofrequency then ultrasound in sequence, one session, assessed at 20 weeks. Biopsy at 20 weeks showed a significant increase in collagen fibres through the full thickness of the dermis (P < 0.05), with improvement of 25% or more in 19 people (90%). This is grounds for “collagen increased after the combination” and not grounds for “the combination is better than either alone” — the design has no single-method arm.
- The safety of the combined treatment — four papers, 272 people — Kwon 2018 (above, 22 people) / Hugul H et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2021;21(1):290–295, PMID 34601819 — retrospective, 158 people, 4 sessions once weekly, significant improvement in all 7 regions (p < 0.001), satisfaction 4.61 ± 0.55/5, no control group / Khong SJML et al., Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;31(1):114–123, DOI 10.21315/mjms2024.31.1.10, PMID 38456105 — retrospective, 56 people, mean 47.7 years (SD 10.00), GAIS improvement 96.4%, transient erythema in all, no burns · oedema · numbness · muscle weakness. Funding and conflicts of interest both declared as none / Lee SK, Nam SM, Cha HG, Park ES, Medical Lasers 2023;12(4):237–242, DOI 10.25289/ML.23.045 (full text confirmed) — 36 people, mild erythema · oedema all resolved within 2 days, no pigmentary change · ulceration · nerve or muscle abnormality. Safety is consistent across the four, but none of the four is a randomised controlled design.
- What we did not use as evidence — (1) The Malaysian Journal study and the Medical Lasers study above were carried out with devices from other companies, not OLIGIO (Jeisys and Tentech respectively). So we have cited them only as material on “treatment using radiofrequency and ultrasound together” and have not used them as evidence for OLIGIO KISS. (2) The conclusion of the Medical Lasers 2023 study states that the combination is more effective, but the between-group comparisons were p = 0.7373 for the wrinkle score and p = 0.5381 for the operator assessment, so the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The one that was significant was patient satisfaction (p = 0.0335), and this study was a non-randomised design in which patients chose their own group, so the authors themselves recorded selection bias as a limitation. We have therefore cited this study as safety material only. (3) Skin Research and Technology 2024;30(2):e13593 (PMID 38279602), which comes up often in searches as satisfaction data for monopolar radiofrequency, is a retracted paper and was not used. (4) The explanation that “radiofrequency works at the shallow layer and ultrasound at the deep one, so they are complementary” rests on depth values that differ from source to source, some of them from a different method (bipolar), so we have not used it as grounds for clinical superiority.
- What we were unable to confirm — (1) A study in humans of OLIGIO KISS itself — we were unable to confirm one in the medical literature databases or the clinical trial registries (2) the Korean licence number (3) a study comparing treatment intervals and how often to repeat (4) follow-up material beyond 24 weeks (5) a study comparing the optimum values for shot count · output setting (6) a study comparing the use of the two devices separately against the fused device.
- Continuing pieces — radiofrequency lifting devices compared, monopolar and bipolar, how many shots should I have, aftercare following RF treatment.
Everything in this column is general information and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Effects and side effects vary with individual skin condition, age and underlying illness, and the same result is not guaranteed for everyone. Any decision to proceed should be made in an in-person consultation with a physician.
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