The answer is - it all depends on the species.
But generally, when a tree is chopped, either while growing in the ground, or as it is being collected from ground growing. The back budding from the first chop is the strongest. Any subsequent chops will yield much less in the way of back budding. So for example, if I want branches on an Elm trunk to start at or below 4 inches, the first chop I would make would be at 4 inches. No second chop needed. If you were ''worried'' about an Elm's health, chopped to 12 inches, then later that summer or the next year chopped again to 4 inches, you may get significantly less back budding after that second chop. It is usually best to bring a tree down to the desired height in ONE CHOP, don't break it up into several steps.
With Oaks this is more important. (In my experience with Bur Oak) - they back bud very close to the chop, with almost nothing coming lower. Chop too high, and you will have to let the tree re-build vigor for a number of years only to then chop again at the height you wanted. Chop an Oak 2 years in a row, or twice in one season, and you may get - nothing - dead tree. Best to chop once.
There are exceptions, and they are species specific, but I can't think of one. A species that tends to die back from a cut, you make the cut higher than the final cut, but only high enough that where the die back stops is about where you wanted the final height to be.
