An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising: a body; a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer; and an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide, a clamp arm (410; 610), wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) comprises a coupling feature, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) further comprises a body (412; 612) and a distal tip (420; 620), wherein the distal tip (420; 620) is selectively removable from the body (412; 612); and a clamp pad, wherein the clamp pad is selectively attachable to the clamp arm (410; 610) to acoustically isolate the clamp arm (410; 610) from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the coupling feature of the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm (410; 610) and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm (410; 610); and wherein the distal tip (420; 620) of the clamp arm (410;610) is fixedly secured to at least a portion of the clamp pad. a body; a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer; and an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide, a clamp arm (410; 610), wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) comprises a coupling feature, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) further comprises a body (412; 612) and a distal tip (420; 620), wherein the distal tip (420; 620) is selectively removable from the body (412; 612); and a clamp pad, wherein the clamp pad is selectively attachable to the clamp arm (410; 610) to acoustically isolate the clamp arm (410; 610) from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the coupling feature of the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm (410; 610) and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm (410; 610); and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide, a clamp arm (410; 610), wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) comprises a coupling feature, wherein the clamp arm (410; 610) further comprises a body (412; 612) and a distal tip (420; 620), wherein the distal tip (420; 620) is selectively removable from the body (412; 612); and a clamp pad, wherein the clamp pad is selectively attachable to the clamp arm (410; 610) to acoustically isolate the clamp arm (410; 610) from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the coupling feature of the clamp arm (410; 610) is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm (410; 610) and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm (410; 610); and wherein the distal tip (420; 620) of the clamp arm (410;610) is fixedly secured to at least a portion of the clamp pad.