Method for forming a HAMR recording head with a protruding near-field transducer

A method of making a recording head on a wafer, comprising:

• forming a near-field transducer on the wafer, wherein the forming of the near-field transducer comprises forming an extended portion that extends towards a surface of the recording head, the extended portion being configured to direct plasmons to a recording medium,
• lapping the surface of the recording head to form a lapped surface;
• forming a feature over the lapped surface in a region of the lapped surface that encompasses the extended portion, the feature comprising a resist or a hardmask;
• forming a media facing surface by etching the lapped surface with the feature such that the extended portion protrudes beyond the media-facing surface by a first distance;
• and
• removing the feature to expose the extended portion of the recording head.