A medical treatment system, comprising: a first elongate support member having a distal mount; a second elongate support member having a proximal mount, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface of the implant configured to attach the distal mount to the implant, the distal mount attached to the distal interface by a distal flexible member that radially expands with the implant while maintaining the distal mount attached to the distal interface; and a proximal interface of the implant configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant, the proximal mount attached to the proximal interface by a proximal flexible member that radially expands with the implant while maintaining the proximal mount attached to the proximal interface; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state characterized in that the distal mount is positioned distal to the distal interface of the implant, the proximal mount is positioned proximal to the proximal interface of the implant, wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the proximal and distal flexible members (312, 314) and to the implant, wherein the implant is a stented heart valve implant. a first elongate support member having a distal mount; a second elongate support member having a proximal mount, the second elongate support member being selectively movable relative to the first elongate support member along a longitudinal axis; a self-expanding medical implant that foreshortens upon radially expanding from a radially compacted state; a distal interface of the implant configured to attach the distal mount to the implant, the distal mount attached to the distal interface by a distal flexible member that radially expands with the implant while maintaining the distal mount attached to the distal interface; and a proximal interface of the implant configured to attach the proximal mount to the implant, the proximal mount attached to the proximal interface by a proximal flexible member that radially expands with the implant while maintaining the proximal mount attached to the proximal interface; wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the implant causing the implant to expand longitudinally and contract radially and wherein moving the distal mount toward the proximal mount reduces a longitudinal tension in the implant allowing the implant to expand radially toward a fully expanded state characterized in that the distal mount is positioned distal to the distal interface of the implant, the proximal mount is positioned proximal to the proximal interface of the implant, wherein moving the distal mount away from the proximal mount applies a longitudinal tension to the proximal and distal flexible members (312, 314) and to the implant, wherein the implant is a stented heart valve implant.