providing through a surgical instrument an ultrasonic energy and a vacuum pressure;

receiving an indication of at least a partial increase in vacuum pressure in an aspiration line associated with a surgical handpiece; and

applying ultrasonic energy through the surgical instrument by activating a switch to a select position, wherein while the switch is activated to the select position, an initial ultrasonic energy level is applied for a configured period of time, in response to the received indication and, while the indication continues above a threshold, automatically increasing the ultrasonic energy during each of a plurality of subsequent periods of a preconfigured time specification until a maximum ultrasonic energy level is reached, in accordance with the formula f(x)=x+ax,

wherein f(x) is a new power, x equals a previous power and a is a decimal constant less than 1.