A forceps for sealing tissue, comprising: at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members (310, 320) movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including a sealing surface (312, 322); a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members, the knife channel dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; and an actuator operatively connected to one of the shaft members for selectively advancing the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members, characterized in that the forceps is a microwave forceps in which the sealing surfaces (312,322) each include at least one microwave antenna (302a-302d) configured to deliver microwave energy to seal tissue disposed thereon and coupled to first and second poles of a source of microwave energy configured to emit energy at a frequency from 300 MHz to 10,000 MHz, wherein the microwave antennas are configured in a dipole arrangement, with one of the microwave antennas on a first of the jaw members forming the first pole and another of the microwave antennas on a second of the jaw members forming a second pole such that microwave energy flows between the sealing surfaces, and the jaw members (310,320) each further include a shielding member (304, 306) configured to reflect microwave energy from the microwave antennas (302a-302d) toward tissue being grasped between the sealing surfaces (312,322), the shielding members each including a dielectric portion (307, 311) and a metallic plate (309, 313) disposed over the dielectric portion. at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members (310, 320) movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including a sealing surface (312, 322); a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members, the knife channel dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; and an actuator operatively connected to one of the shaft members for selectively advancing the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members, characterized in that the forceps is a microwave forceps in which the sealing surfaces (312,322) each include at least one microwave antenna (302a-302d) configured to deliver microwave energy to seal tissue disposed thereon and coupled to first and second poles of a source of microwave energy configured to emit energy at a frequency from 300 MHz to 10,000 MHz, wherein the microwave antennas are configured in a dipole arrangement, with one of the microwave antennas on a first of the jaw members forming the first pole and another of the microwave antennas on a second of the jaw members forming a second pole such that microwave energy flows between the sealing surfaces, and the jaw members (310,320) each further include a shielding member (304, 306) configured to reflect microwave energy from the microwave antennas (302a-302d) toward tissue being grasped between the sealing surfaces (312,322), the shielding members each including a dielectric portion (307, 311) and a metallic plate (309, 313) disposed over the dielectric portion.