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. <EOS>