A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) an end effector configured to cut and/or seal tissue, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level, wherein the end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein the end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position; and (b) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a body, (ii) a trigger pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, and (iii) an activation element comprising an activation button, wherein the activation element is in communication with the end effector, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector to cut and/or seal tissue, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector upon actuation of the activation button, at either the first energy level or the second energy level, and characterized in that the trigger is configured to determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level by pivoting. (a) an end effector configured to cut and/or seal tissue, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level, wherein the end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein the end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position; and (b) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a body, (ii) a trigger pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, and (iii) an activation element comprising an activation button, wherein the activation element is in communication with the end effector, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector to cut and/or seal tissue, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector upon actuation of the activation button, at either the first energy level or the second energy level, and characterized in that the trigger is configured to determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level by pivoting. (i) a body, (ii) a trigger pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, and (iii) an activation element comprising an activation button, wherein the activation element is in communication with the end effector, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector to cut and/or seal tissue, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector upon actuation of the activation button, at either the first energy level or the second energy level, and characterized in that the trigger is configured to determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level by pivoting.