This is an old ficus retusa that I have been working on for a few years now.  It got a little long in the tooth two years ago, so I spent last year chasing in the branches and growing some new branches to replace some branches that were in need of replacing.  This year, it has been trimmed and wired, trimmed and unwired, then left to grow out.

The photos show it in 2005, then 2007, and then 2008 after cutting it back hard to regrow it.

These photos show it after trimming it back (with the exception of a few branches) and wiring some of the new main branches.  There is more wiring to do, but that will wait until later after it has regenerated and then been defoliated.

it will end up being wider.  I am working on secondary branching and some tertiary branching.  As it develops it will grow wider, but not "much" wider.  Maybe 4" or so, depending....  The lower branches are already over 1.5" and 2" thick, and they will continue to grow.

Don: Love the tree and work you have done "chasing it back' I would not let it grow out much wider(would take away from base) Just let branches have big taper;maybe one secondary come way down/up like Lo"s one tree. Dustin Mann