A system and method of treating sleep apnea by providing a first (100) and a second (102) microstimulator proximate to a first (104) and second (106) hypoglossal nerve (HGN) respectively and stimulating the first and second HGN for a first (306) and second (308) predetermined length of time. The first and second predetermined length of time may occur sequentially or concurrently. Moreover, the stimulation of the first and second HGNs may be at a sub-motor threshold afferent stimulation level or at a motor-threshold stimulation level. The stimulation of the first and second HGN may be performed in an open-loop or a closed-loop manner.
