Well I've never had a c section, but I've had an episiotomy with one birth and a second degree tear with the other. My episiotomy caused me pain for well over a year afterwards, and was never right until after the birth of my second child (where the tear healed much better and is now fine). So if you have healed well from your other surgery I would be opting for a c section. I have a friend who had a 4th degree tear, which is awful and causes many ongoing issues, she had a c section for the next birth.

Have a good talk to the ob about missing out on the birth. You could ask for it to be as natural as possible and have baby skin to skin while still in theatre etc