Tearing is definitely better than being cut because you only tear as much as you need to tear and it is usually only superficial with minimal injury/damage to the surrounding muscles, but with an epi, you are cut right through and more often than not, cut further than you really need to get the baby out. My healing time with the epi was terrible and I had incredible soreness when lifting my left leg but with the tears, I didn't even feel them at all - no pain or discomfort.