PETALING JAYA –  A factory worker in Thailand suffering from a crooked jaw underwent a series of plastic surgery procedures, so much so that his own mother could not recognise him.

But while his social life has also transformed, Noppajit Monlin remains faithful and committed to his transgender girlfriend of three years.

In the TV series called Let Me In Thailand, the Thai edition of a popular South Korean reality TV show, Noppajit Monlin wanted to change his appearance because his crooked jaw did not allow him to chew properly.

Embarrassed by his appearance, the 22-year-old distanced himself from colleagues and always ate by himself during his lunch break, reported The Star’s Malay-language portal mStar.

In Season Three of the makeover programme that airs every Sunday, Noppajit was selected to undergo plastic surgery in South Korea. He fixed his jaw, forehead and eyelids.

His saliva glands were injected with botox to correct excessive salivation, and he also underwent treatment to get rid of his skin blemishes.

After the whole process was completed, Noppajit looked like a completely different person.

After a three-month recovery period, he was scheduled to meet his mother, who was not named in the TV show, for the first time since he began his makeover, at their favourite restaurant.

Unfortunately, his mother could not recognise Noppajit even though he was seated at another table facing hers.

“I really miss (him), this is not an act,” she said, crying in front of the cameras while talking about her son.

He stood up and walked towards his mother, and she started crying when he introduced himself as the “new Noppajit”.

“Mum, do you remember me? Look at me,” he said.

“Is that you? Is that really you?” his mother said.

She still could not believe it after being shown “before” and “after” photographs of Noppajit’s transformation, and had to look at scars on his hands to prove it to herself.

Noppajit told the TV show that his life has changed tremendously since the procedure.

“Many see me as a completely different individual. I feel better. Before this, people looked at my face as abnormal and society did not accept me.

“But now I have more friends,” he added.

But while he looks like a K-pop star now, Noppajit said he was still the same person and his heart belonged to Tob, a transgender woman whom he met via Facebook.

He said he has been in a relationship with Tob for three years now.

“I took care of him and I am not afraid that he will leave me. We have trusted one another from the beginning,” said the 26-year-old Tob.

Noppajit concurred. “She took care of me … this woman is the one for me.

“Although I have a new life now, my heart remains the same,” he added.