Medical devices have material that that has a laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) pattern on at least a portion thereof. The LIPSS pattern is provided by exposing a material surface to a pulsed polarized laser energy fluence below the ablation threshold. The LIPSS pattern is useful for purposes such as reducing contact areas on sliding surfaces, increasing total surface area for adhesions, providing anisotropic reinforcement of a material layer or layers, and to provide multiple channels for directing cell growth.