Systems and methods are provided for treating snoring or sleep apnea of a patient that include an implantable device and a retainer. The device includes an elongate filament sized for introduction into or through a patients tongue and including a distal end and a proximal end, a connection member on the proximal end, and one or more securing elements on or adjacent the distal end. The retainer includes a body configured to be removably engaged with one or more teeth within a patients mouth, and a connector port for removably engaging the connection member to support the patients tongue relative to the retainer.
