By forming a buffer material above differently stressed contact etch stop layers followed by the deposition of a further stress-inducing material, enhanced overall device performance may be accomplished, wherein an undesired influence of the additional stress-inducing layer may be reduced in device regions, for instance, by removing the additional material or by performing a relaxation implantation process. Furthermore, process uniformity during a patterning sequence for forming contact openings may be enhanced by partially removing the additional stress-inducing layer at an area at which a contact opening is to be formed.