I was told 2week liquid diet was to shrink my liver so surgery was safer, but Dr. Pleatman on this panel said that wasn't true.

Pre-op diet should be a high protein, low calorie regimen. If done correctly, it results in weight loss and reduction of fat deposits in the liver. The loss of the fat deposits "shrinks" the liver.

I don't know which comment of mine you are referring to.  Yes, a 2-week liquid protein diet will shrink your liver and cause weight loss.  I personally don't require it of all patients because it costs money and isn't necessarily pleasant.  This week I saw several patients weighing more than 450 pounds, with BMIs above 60 and even 80.  I have asked them to do the liquid protein diet for MORE than 2 weeks.  But for most patients with reasonable BMIs and "favorable" anatomy, I only ask that they don't gain weight, and try to eat sensibly and lose a few pounds.There are many programs where you don't meet your surgeon until right before your operation.  At these programs it is safer to just require everybody to do the 2-week diet; that way less thinking is involved, and those whose surgery is made safer benefit, while everybody else suffers a bit but isn't otherwise harmed.