A surgical instrument is provided having an actuator mechanism with an integrated extension element. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongate shaft, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly having atraumatic pads to reduce force on grasped tissue. An actuator is movable within the elongate shaft to actuate jaws of the jaw assembly responsive to a movable handle of the handle assembly. The actuator can have an integrated extension element that allows the actuator to translate within the elongate shaft upon application of a relatively low force and translate and extend upon application of a relatively higher force to the actuator to limit the force applied by the jaw assembly. The actuator also utilizes forces stored with the integrated extension element to provide a dynamic amount of force used to grasp the tissue when the tissue volume decreases while in the jaws.