A method for loading a prosthesis onto a delivery system is provided whichinvolvesproviding a prosthetic valve having a plurality of commissure posts coupledthereto. Theprosthetic valve includes an unbiased diameter. The method also involvesreducing theunbiased diameter of the prosthetic valve in selected discrete regions. Theselected discreteregions include the commissure posts. The method also involves loading thereduced diameterprosthetic valve onto a delivery device