A method of loading a self-expanding stent into a delivery sheath configured to retain the stent in a radially compressed pre-deployment configuration, including the steps of radially compressing the stent from a relaxed outside diameter d0 to a compressed outside diameter d1, providing a loading sheath with an inner diameter d2, where d0>；d2>；d1, translating the stent relative to the sheath, whereby the stent is accommodated within the lumen of the loading sheath, providing a delivery sheath with an inner diameter d3, where d0>；d3>；d2, advancing the loading sheath, containing the stent, into the lumen of the delivery sheath, and deploying the stent into the lumen of the delivery sheath.
