A method according to another embodiment includes forming a side shield layer of ferromagnetic material above a substrate; masking the side shield layer; milling an unmasked region of the side shield layer for forming a pole trench therein; and forming a pole layer in the pole trench. A structure according to one embodiment includes a substrate; a side shield layer of ferromagnetic material on the substrate, wherein the substrate has a region covered by the side shield layer and a region not covered by the side shield layer; a pole trench in the side shield layer and the region of the substrate not covered by the side shield layer; a layer of nonmagnetic material in the pole trench; and a pole layer in the pole trench, wherein the pole layer has a greater thickness above the region of the substrate not covered by the side shield layer than above the region of the substrate covered by the side shield layer.