Lots of us dreamed of being a superhero when we were young - but one man's gone a few steps further and transformed himself into the Man of Steel.

Herbert Chavez has undergone 23 surgeries at a cost of more than £4,400 to give himself the famous looks of Superman.

Total Transformation: The 37-year-old even wears bright blue contacts over his own brown eyes for that authentic super gaze (
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But although he's now as close as can be to Clark Kent, he's still not happy, and has been keen on more surgery - against doctors' advice.

The 37-year-old even wears bright blue contacts over his own brown eyes for that authentic super gaze.

Before Hand: Chavez pictured before he had any of his superhero surgery (
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Barcroft Media)

He has had nose jobs, liposuction, skin-whitening, fillers and jaw work over 18 years.

But Chavez, who fell in love with the star aged five, has had his dream stopped short.

Steel Man: Chavez poses in his homemade Superman outfit - he wants to be a hero to Filipinos (
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Barcroft Media)

His request for abdominal muscles to match Krypton's most famous son has been denied after doctors learned he's been injecting with unsafe fillers.

Dr Terry Dubrow and Dr Paul Nassif on US TV's Botched programme uncovered the injections due to Herbert's spots and bumps all over his body. They have warned fillers could make surgery unsafe.

Super Fan:Chavez poses with his huge collection of Superman figurines (
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Barcroft Media)

Of his transformation, Herbert said: "What is there for me to regret?

"Everything that has happened in my life has been positive and because of Superman.

"When my body says it can not endure it anymore or when my doctor says that my body can not handle it because of age, then I will stop."

Real-life Hero: Chavez says everything that has happened in his life has been positive and because of Superman (
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And it's not just about looks, either - he's in love with the whole message.

"I like to show to the people, especially the children of the Philippines, that I’m here. Superman is real.

"What I want is to give them inspiration. To give hope."

Herbert's also been in the Guinness Book of Records for three years for owning the world's largest Superman memorabilia collection which includes dolls, posters and jewellery.