A nozzle is provided for an injection molding apparatus. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip surrounding piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, which has an inlet that is adapted to be downstream from and in communication with a melt source. The heater is connected to said body for heating melt in said nozzle body melt passage. The tip defines a tip melt passage that is downstream from and in communication with said nozzle body melt passage. The tip melt passage has an outlet that is upstream from a gate in a mold component. The tip includes a tip sealing surface. The tip surrounding piece includes a first tip surrounding piece sealing surface. The first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface are separated by a gap. The gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt between said first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface.