Shape memory polymers can be used in numerous applications, such as soft tissue fixation devices in healthcare, which is the topic of this research. The recovery behaviour of a wide range of thermoplastic polymers has been investigated using two different techniques: die-drawing and micro injection moulding. Two main factors were used to assess the amount of recovery and hence morphology change that can be achieved by both techniques: a) the type of polymer, either semicrystalline (PP, PLA, PEO, PCL) or amorphous (PDLGA, PETg, PMMA) and b) the processing conditions, especially in micro-moulding. The results showed a huge advantage of amorphous polymers over semicrystalline especially in micro injection moulding, since only the former exhibits recovery behaviour. In die-drawing, both polymer types exhibit recovery behaviour, however amorphous exhibit full recovery, while semicrystalline only partial.