Methods and systems of fabricating a polymeric stent are disclosed herein. Methods are disclosed that include forming a polymeric tube comprising a polymer using melt processing, radially deforming the formed tube, and forming a stent from the deformed tube. The diameter of the formed tube is less than a target diameter and the tube is radially deformed so that it comprises the target diameter. Forming the stent includes laser machining a stent pattern in the deformed tube at the target diameter with an ultra-short pulse laser.