Recovery guide
Inspire Recovery Guide
Quick answer: Recovery after Inspire surgery is easy for most people. Most are back to normal, non-strenuous activity within a few days, usually with over-the-counter pain relief only. For 1 week, avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity, swimming and travel. For 2 weeks, avoid reaching overhead and lift little to no weight with the arm on the side of your implant (usually the right). Your implant is turned on in our office about 1 month after surgery.
What should I expect?
Inspire is placed through small incisions in the upper neck and chest. Most people go home the same day. In the first days after surgery, expect:
- Pain and soreness around the incisions.
- Mild swelling around the incisions. The neck incision may swell more because the nearby salivary gland (the submandibular gland) becomes inflamed. This is temporary and usually goes away within 2 to 3 weeks.
- Mild oozing from around the incisions.
- A sore tongue for a few days.
- For some people, a headache or earache on the side of the implant. This is temporary.
How do I care for the incisions?
- You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Let warm, soapy water run over the incisions. Do not scrub them.
- Do not swim or soak the incisions in a bath, pool or hot tub for 1 week.
- Call us if an incision keeps draining or the redness around it gets worse.
How should I manage pain?
Pain can usually be controlled with over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) and either ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), taken as directed on the bottle.
Call us if the pain gets worse or becomes severe instead of easing.
When can I get back to normal?
You do not need bed rest. Most people are back to normal, non-strenuous activity within a few days. Eat a regular diet.
- Neck rolls: 10 clockwise and 10 counterclockwise, 3 times a day.
- For 1 week: no heavy lifting or strenuous activity, no swimming, and no flying or travel.
- For 2 weeks: do not reach overhead, and lift little to no weight with the arm on the side of your implant (usually the right).
When will my Inspire be turned on?
Your implant stays off while you heal. It is usually turned on in our office about 1 month after surgery, when we set it up and show you how to use the remote. Until then, ask us whether to keep using your CPAP if you have one.
When should I call?
Call us for
- A fever over 101°F that does not go away
- Pain that gets worse or becomes severe
- An incision that keeps draining, or redness around an incision that is getting worse
Call 911 or go to the ER for
Shortness of breath, chest pain, or swelling in the neck that is quickly getting bigger.
Austin 512-339-4040 · Lakeway 512-682-4798 · Marble Falls 830-992-2830
Questions patients ask
Recovery is easy for most people. Most are back to normal, non-strenuous activity within a few days, usually with over-the-counter pain relief only. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity, swimming and travel for 1 week, and for 2 weeks avoid reaching overhead or lifting with the arm on the implant side.
You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Let warm, soapy water run over the incisions without scrubbing them, and do not swim or soak them for 1 week.
Mild swelling around the incisions is expected. The neck incision may swell more because the nearby submandibular salivary gland becomes inflamed. This is temporary and usually goes away within 2 to 3 weeks. Call 911 for neck swelling that is quickly getting bigger or for trouble breathing.
Some people have a headache or earache on the side of the implant after surgery. This is temporary. Call us if the pain gets worse or becomes severe instead of easing.
Your implant is usually turned on in our office about 1 month after surgery, once you have healed.
We recommend no flying or travel for 1 week after the procedure.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace an in-person evaluation. If your surgeon gave you different instructions, follow theirs.
Full guide: capitalent.com/inspire-recovery.html