A recent study from the Institute of Medicine reported that silicone breast implants do not cause any life-threatening illnesses.

While this report is good news for women who have breast implants, the report overlooks the real danger of implants. Breast implants represent serious psychological and social problems in our society.

Women who opt for implants need to reconcile serious self-esteem issues before they worry about the health risks.

The problem is we live in a society that makes women feel they need implants.

Images of women in the media have always been dominated by freakishly large breasts on unnaturally slender women.

This standard is unattainable and undesirable.

Instead of challenging the stereotype, the frequent solution is implants.

Implants are sometimes recommended by psychologists for women who feel inferior. Even parents occasionally buy implants for young girls as graduation presents.

But it’s hard to imagine sacks of silicone making anyone feel any more confident in her “self.”

The stereotype that all men lust after huge breasts is not even universally true.

While many men do have a breast fixation, there are a wide variety of physical characteristics that men may find attractive.

But no matter what men find attractive, women should not feel that’s what they should have to live up to.

The whole issue of breast implants stems from the continued stereotype that women need to lure a man.

This sickness causes women to put aside their careers, keep their opinions to themselves and ultimately lose their own identities — the most attractive feature of all.

So to say that the only dangers of silicone breast implants are lower back pain and possible leakage is really missing the boat.

The biggest danger of all is that they uphold a ridiculous image of the “ideal woman,” and strip women of their individuality.