If you have obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP hasn't worked for you — whether because of mask discomfort, claustrophobia, air pressure intolerance, or simply not sleeping with a machine strapped to your face — you may be a candidate for the Inspire® sleep apnea implant. Beach Cities ENTS in Torrance offers Inspire® evaluation and implantation for eligible patients throughout the South Bay, including El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and surrounding South Bay communities.
Inspire® is not a workaround for CPAP — it is a fundamentally different treatment that works from inside your body while you sleep. For patients who qualify, it represents a meaningful path to restoring sleep quality without any equipment at the bedside.
What Is the Inspire® Implant?
Inspire® (Upper Airway Stimulation) is an FDA-approved implantable device that treats obstructive sleep apnea by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve — the nerve that controls tongue movement — each time you breathe in during sleep. The gentle electrical impulse moves the tongue and surrounding airway muscles slightly forward, keeping the upper airway open so you breathe normally throughout the night.
The system consists of three components placed under the skin through small incisions: a pulse generator in the upper chest, a breathing sensing lead between the ribs, and a stimulation lead near the hypoglossal nerve in the neck. You turn the device on at bedtime with a small handheld remote and off when you wake up. There is no mask, no hose, and no sound. Your bed partner will not know the device is running.
Who Is a Candidate for Inspire®?
Inspire® therapy is FDA-approved for certain adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use or benefit from positive airway pressure therapy. Current FDA labeling includes an AHI range of 15–100, and candidacy also depends on airway anatomy and other clinical factors. BMI and insurance requirements can vary, so Beach Cities ENTS evaluates each patient individually rather than relying on a single cutoff.
Not every patient with sleep apnea qualifies. Before surgery, your ENT performs a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) — a brief procedure under light sedation in which a camera is passed through the nose to observe exactly how your airway collapses during sleep. Inspire® is most effective for patients whose airway collapses front-to-back (like a trapdoor) rather than from all sides simultaneously. The DISE tells us definitively whether your anatomy is right for the device. Beach Cities ENTS coordinates this evaluation for patients from Torrance and El Segundo so you know whether you qualify before any surgical commitment is made.
How Is Inspire® Implanted?
Inspire® implantation is an outpatient surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, typically lasting two to three hours. The surgeon makes two small incisions — one below the collarbone to place the pulse generator, and one under the chin to position the stimulation lead on the hypoglossal nerve. A third sensing lead is placed between the ribs through a separate small opening to detect your breathing pattern.
Most patients go home the same day and experience mild soreness at the incision sites for one to two weeks. Full activity typically resumes within two to three weeks. The device is not activated immediately — it is turned on approximately one month after surgery to allow healing, then fine-tuned at follow-up visits over the next few months to find the right stimulation settings for your anatomy.
What Results Can I Expect?
Clinical studies and long-term follow-up have shown meaningful reductions in sleep apnea severity and improvements in quality of life for appropriately selected patients. Individual results vary, and the Beach Cities ENTS team will review your sleep study, airway anatomy, health history, and treatment goals to discuss realistic expectations.
The implanted generator is designed for long-term use and will eventually require replacement when the battery reaches the end of its service life. Timing varies by device use and settings. For South Bay patients who have struggled with CPAP, Beach Cities ENTS provides ongoing follow-up to monitor therapy and adjust settings as needed.
Beach Cities ENTS Reviews
Very knowledgeable and personable - She has been seeing our son since he was one year old for ongoing ENT-related issues. She has helped us navigate complicated issues and seems to favor lowest level of intervention medically required, which we prefer. She always seems genuinely happy to see her patients and she is good with him. We will continue to see her only as long as she is practicing.
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Dr. Levine was great. My Son had surgery and he made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the entire process. He even called on a Sunday to see how he was doing. He was professional, caring, and took the time to answer all of our questions. I am in healthcare and am really particular. The office staff was also friendly, welcoming, and efficient, making every visit a pleasant experience. I highly recommend Dr.Levine and his entire team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover the Inspire® sleep apnea implant?
Insurance coverage for Inspire® varies by plan and generally depends on documented medical necessity and eligibility criteria. Many plans require a qualifying sleep study, documentation that positive airway pressure therapy was not effective or tolerable, and confirmation that the patient meets clinical criteria. The Beach Cities ENTS team can help patients understand the authorization process and what documentation may be needed.
What is the difference between Inspire® and other sleep apnea devices like mandibular advancement devices?
A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is a custom oral appliance worn in the mouth that shifts the lower jaw forward to prevent airway collapse. It is effective for mild-to-moderate sleep apnea and is a reasonable non-surgical option for many patients. Inspire® is a surgically implanted device appropriate for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in patients who cannot use CPAP. The right choice depends on your AHI severity, anatomy, and personal preference — and in some cases, patients who have tried an MAD without success are good Inspire® candidates. We discuss all options during your consultation at Beach Cities ENTS.
Can I have MRI scans after Inspire® is implanted?
MRI eligibility depends on the specific Inspire® system and the conditions of the scan. Patients receive device identification information after implantation and should always tell the imaging facility that they have an implanted Inspire® system. Beach Cities ENTS can help coordinate questions about imaging safety when needed.
How do I know if my sleep apnea is caused by the type of airway collapse Inspire® treats?
That is exactly what the drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) determines. During this brief procedure performed under light sedation, your ENT passes a flexible scope through the nose and observes your airway while you are in a sleep-like state. DISE helps determine whether the pattern of airway collapse is compatible with Inspire® therapy. Complete concentric collapse at the soft palate is an important exclusion criterion. The DISE is a required step in the Inspire® workup and is performed at Beach Cities ENTS before any surgical decision is made.
What happens if Inspire® does not fully control my sleep apnea?
Device settings can be adjusted over time at follow-up visits — stimulation amplitude, timing, and other parameters are customized to your response. Most patients see improvement that continues to evolve over the first six to twelve months as settings are refined. In cases where the response is incomplete, additional evaluation helps determine whether settings need further adjustment or whether another contributing anatomic factor (such as nasal obstruction) should also be addressed. Inspire® does not prevent you from using CPAP if needed, and the two can theoretically be combined in unusual circumstances.