A method of applying a surgical clip, wherein the clip has a rigid portion with a pair of opposed first and second leg members having proximal and distal ends and a knee portion formed therebetween. The clip also has an apex with opposed ends joining the proximal ends of the first and second leg members, and a compliant portion formed on an inner surface of at least one of the first and second leg members. The method includes the step of placing the opposed first and second leg members around a tissue to be ligated, and deforming the opposed first and second leg members towards each other. The method further comprises releasing the first and second leg members to cause a separation of the first and second leg members, wherein the separation is less than the total of thickness of the compliant portion and the thickness of the tissue within the first and second leg members.
