Clin Assoc Prof Lim Geok Hoon is a Head & Senior Consultant in the Breast Department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Areas of clinical focus include oncoplastic breast surgery and breast cancer genetics.
Clinical focus
Oncoplastic breast surgery and breast cancer genetics.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
FRCSEd (Gen), MMed (Spore), MRCS (UK), MBBS (Spore)
Where they practise
Lim Geok Hoon practises at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, in the Breast Department. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Breast Surgery
Breast surgery focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of breast conditions — both cancer and benign problems such as lumps, cysts and pain. Breast surgeons assess breast symptoms and abnormal mammogram or ultrasound findings, arrange biopsies, and perform breast-cancer operations ranging from lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) to mastectomy, often with sentinel-lymph-node biopsy. Many work closely with plastic surgeons for reconstruction and with medical and radiation oncologists in a multidisciplinary team. Early detection through screening greatly improves outcomes, so assessment of any breast change is important.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in breast surgery include:
- Breast lumps and cysts
- Breast cancer
- Abnormal mammogram or ultrasound findings
- Breast pain and nipple discharge
- Family history / high-risk breast
- Breast surgery and reconstruction
What to expect at a consultation
An initial consultation usually involves a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a focused examination, and any tests needed to reach a diagnosis. The specialist will explain the findings, walk you through your options — including non-surgical approaches where relevant — and set out the likely costs and next steps before anything proceeds. If a procedure is recommended, it is reasonable to ask what it involves, the expected recovery time, the risks and the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision at your own pace. It helps to keep asking questions until you fully understand the plan.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring referral letters, past reports, scan images and a list of your current medications.
- Note your main symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Write down the questions that matter most to you, and bring a family member if it helps.
After your consultation and follow-up
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given medication, referred for further tests or imaging, scheduled for a procedure, or asked to return for review. Ask what warning signs should prompt earlier contact, how to get your results, and who to reach if you have questions between visits. Keeping your own copy of reports makes future care and any second opinion easier.
Costs, subsidies and financing in Singapore
For subsidised care at a public (restructured) hospital, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is generally needed; private specialists can usually be booked directly at full fees. Ask upfront for an estimate covering the consultation, tests and any procedure. Depending on the treatment, you may be able to use MediSave for approved day-surgery and procedures (within set limits), with MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan helping for larger inpatient bills. Purely cosmetic procedures are not claimable. If cost is a concern, it is worth asking whether a subsidised referral is possible, and comparing written estimates between providers before you commit.
How to choose the right breast surgeon in Singapore
Beyond credentials, it helps to match the specialist to your specific problem. Consider whether their sub-specialty fits your condition, how often they manage or operate on cases like yours, which hospital they admit to (and whether it suits your budget and insurance), and how clearly they explain your options and costs. Accreditation can be confirmed on the Register of Specialists and registration on the Singapore Medical Council register. Independent reviews are a useful signal for communication and experience, but weigh them alongside credentials rather than on their own.
Questions worth asking at your first consultation
- Are you an accredited specialist in the area my condition falls under?
- What are my options, including non-surgical or watch-and-wait approaches?
- How often do you treat or perform this, and what are the typical outcomes and risks?
- What is the full estimated cost, and what can I claim through MediSave or insurance?
- Are you comfortable with me seeking a second opinion?
Verifying credentials
In Singapore every practising doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, and specialists are additionally listed on the Register of Specialists maintained by the Specialist Accreditation Board — you can search both to confirm a doctor’s registration and field. The letters after a name (such as MRCP, FRCS or FAMS) reflect postgraduate training and fellowships, but the key question is simply whether the doctor is an accredited specialist in the area relevant to your care.
When to consider a second opinion
A second opinion is reasonable before major surgery, for a serious or unclear diagnosis, or when a recommended treatment feels aggressive or uncertain. Good specialists welcome it. Bring your reports and scans so the second doctor can assess the same information. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records to take along, and seeking another view will not offend a good specialist.
Common questions
When should I see a breast surgeon?
For a new breast lump, an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound, persistent breast pain, nipple discharge or skin changes, or a strong family history of breast cancer.
Does a breast lump mean cancer?
Most breast lumps are benign, but any new lump should be assessed — usually with examination, imaging and, if needed, a needle biopsy.
How often should I have a mammogram?
In Singapore, women aged 50 and above are advised a mammogram every 2 years; those 40–49 can consider yearly screening after discussing the pros and cons.
Do I need a referral to see this specialist?
For subsidised care at a public hospital you generally need a GP or polyclinic referral; private specialists can usually be seen directly.
How can I verify a doctor’s credentials?
Check the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and the Register of Specialists for accredited specialists.
Selected research & publications
Lim Geok Hoon has contributed to peer-reviewed research in breast surgery. A selection of published work:
- The SLIM technique: introducing a novel way for the orientation of cavity shaves during breast conserving surgery in breast cancer patients — Gland Surg, 2026
- Mammogram Surveillance Outcomes After Oncoplastic or Standard Breast Conserving Surgery in Asians-A Comparison Study Exploring the Effect of Breast Density — Clin Breast Cancer, 2026
- Initial Outcomes of a Novel Technique of Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Without Reconstruction — Cancers (Basel), 2025
- Use of axillary ultrasound to guide breast cancer management in the genomic assay era — Breast Dis, 2024
- A comparison of the outcomes of a novel technique of Mini-Incision and Self-Express (MISE) for breast abscess with the conventional techniques: a retrospective comparative cohort study — Ann Med Surg (Lond), 2023
- A comprehensive analysis of imaging features and clinical characteristics to differentiate malignant from non-malignant mammographic architectural distortion — Gland Surg, 2024
Related guides
Sources & verification
Profile details are summarised from the doctor’s official listing (official profile). Registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and specialist accreditation on the Register of Specialists.
General information only, not medical advice. Details may change — confirm current clinic, availability and fees with the provider.
See also: our editorial directory of breast surgeons in Singapore.
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