An active device region is formed in and on a semiconductor substrate. An interconnect layer is formed over the active device region, wherein the interconnect layer comprises a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, a first metal interconnect in the first dielectric material, and a second metal interconnect in the first dielectric material and laterally spaced apart from the first metal interconnect. A portion of the first dielectric material is removed such that a remaining portion of the first dielectric material remains within the interconnect layer, wherein the removed portion is removed from a location between the first and second metal interconnects. The location between the first and second metal interconnects from which the portion of the first dielectric material was removed is filled with a second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant being higher than the first dielectric constant.