A magnetic head includes a slider body having a trailing surface meeting an air-bearing surface at a trailing edge, with a thin-film transducer disposed on the trailing surface of the slider body near the trailing edge. The thin-film transducer includes a coil embedded between first and second poles. A resistive heating element is disposed adjacent and electrically insulated from, the coil. Application of power to the resistive heating element causes expansion of at least the first and second poles.