an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing , a shaft extending from the housing , and an end effector assembly attached at a distal end of the shaft . a handle assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a movable handle for manipulating the end effector assembly . an outer sleeve is disposed about the shaft and selectively translatable relative thereto . an energizable member is operably coupled to the outer sleeve . a deployment mechanism is provided including a lever rotatably coupled to the housing and positioned proximally of the movable handle and at least one link member coupled between the lever and the outer sleeve . the link member couple to the outer sleeve distally of the movable handle . rotation of the lever translates the outer sleeve distally to move the outer sleeve over the end effector assembly and simultaneously deploy the energizable member distally past the end effector assembly .