Dr Lydia Lim
BDS(Hons), MDSc, FRACDS, FRACDS(OMS)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr Lydia Lim graduated from the University of Sydney with honours and completed her post-graduate training in the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Sydney. She holds the specialist qualification FRACDS(OMS) and a Master of Dental Science from the University of Sydney. Dr Lim furthered her surgical training in the United States as Clinical Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr Lim is one of Sydney’s leading orthognathic surgeons, having performed over 1,000 corrective jaw procedures across the full spectrum of complexity. Her emphasis is on combining the science and art of jaw surgery to improve jaw function as well as enhance facial aesthetics. Her approach to orthognathic planning is to consider the Face, Airway, Bite and TMJ as an integrated whole. Dr Lim’s expertise extends to patients with cleft and craniofacial syndromes and challenging reconstructive deformities. She uses advanced techniques including virtual surgical planning, customised patient-specific implants, distraction osteogenesis, combined orthognathic and TMJ replacement surgery and maxillo-mandibular advancement for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Dr Lim was an early adopter of using counter-clockwise rotation for facial aesthetic optimisation.
Dr Lim also is also known for her expertise in dental implant surgery, including complex reconstructive cases requiring bone grafting and zygomatic implants. Her ability to integrate dental implant rehabilitation with skeletal repositioning offers a distinctive level of care for patients with severe tooth and bone loss as well as facial disproportion.
Dr Lim served as Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Westmead Hospital for ten years (2016–2026), leading one of Australia’s major training units in the specialty. She continues to be actively involved in the training of future oral and maxillofacial surgeons through her combined appointments at Westmead Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Dr Lim is an Honorary Associate of the University of Sydney, where she has been teaching orthognathic surgery to orthodontic post-graduate students for over 25 years. Dr Lim served as Chair of SORG Oceania (2019–2025), an education board advancing surgical education across Australia and New Zealand.
In 2025, Dr Lim was honoured to receive the “Distinguished Service Award” in recognition of her leadership, education and longstanding service to the profession from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, (ANZAOMS) [Read the Award Citation].
Dr Lim is a frequent invited lecturer at national and international scientific meetings. She has lectured in Asia, Europe and the United States, and has often been invited to speak outside her own specialty – including facial plastic surgery and orthodontic conferences. [Read Dr Lim’s Latest News and Lectures].
Dr Lim is passionate about her work and strives to be at the forefront of her specialty. She enjoys being able to help patients and communicates with an approachable style. She believes in treating her patients with professionalism, respect and integrity.
Dr Lim is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Australasian Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, American Society of Temporomandibular Joint Surgery, SORG Oceania, Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, Australian Dental Association and elected member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.