Methods for making medical devices having porous coatings. Methods may comprise providing a tubing section having inner and outer surfaces and positioning a nozzle proximate to a target surface of the parent tubing section. A powder form of the porous coating may be delivered toward the tubing section, and a laser may be directed at the powder to melt the powder to form a melt pool. The melt pool can solidify to form the porous coating on the target surface. Portions of the parent tubing section may then be cut away to form the support structure of the medical device, such as a stent.