A surgical system for connecting body tissue is provided. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument having two tool elements movable relative to each other, each of which comprises a high-frequency electrode. The high-frequency electrodes, in an approach position of the tool elements, define a minimum distance from each other, lying opposite each other and facing each other. The instrument has a shaft at the distal end of which at least a first one of the tool elements is arranged or formed. A second tool element is movable from an operating position, in which it is adapted for movement into the approach position, into a removal position and/or vice versa. A surface area of a perpendicular projection of the second tool element onto a projection plane extending perpendicularly to a shaft direction in a region of the second tool element is smaller in the removal position than in the operating position.