A method for fabricating a laser diode device includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member having a surface region, forming a patterned dielectric material overlying the surface region to expose a portion of the surface region within a vicinity of an recessed region of the patterned dielectric material and maintaining an upper portion of the patterned dielectric material overlying covered portions of the surface region, and performing a lateral epitaxial growth overlying the exposed portion of the surface region to fill the recessed region and causing a thickness of the lateral epitaxial growth to be formed overlying the upper portion of the patterned dielectric material. The method also includes forming an n-type gallium and nitrogen containing material, forming an active region, and forming a p-type gallium and nitrogen containing material. The method further includes forming a waveguide structure in the p-type gallium and nitrogen containing material.