Approaches herein decrease nanosheet gate length variations by implanting a gate layer material with ions prior to etching. A method may include forming a dummy gate structure over a nanosheet stack, the dummy gate structure including a hardmask atop a gate material layer, and removing a portion of the hardmask to expose a first area and a second area of the gate material layer. The method may further include implanting the dummy gate structure to modify the first and second areas of the gate material layer, and etching the first and second areas of the gate material layer to form a treated layer along a sidewall of a third area of the gate material layer, wherein the third area is beneath the hardmask.