A piston including at least one insert disposed between an inner surface of a ring belt and undercrown surface, and/or between the inner surface of the ring belt and a pin boss, to provide reinforcement to the ring belt is provided. The insert reduces thermal and mechanical distortion of the ring belt, and thus increases the piston ring performance, reduces blow-by, and ultimately improves engine emissions. The insert is formed by an additive machining process, such as direct depositing, laser cladding, laser sintering, arc welding, additive welding, plasma transferred arc spraying, plasma welding, arc welding, selective laser sintering, and high velocity oxygen fuel spraying, plasma spraying. According to one embodiment, an intermediate piece is mechanically attached to the piston, and the insert is applied to the intermediate piece, to provide additional reinforcement.