How severe is the pain from an acne treatment?

I do remember going to a dermatologist when I was younger, but it's been so long that my memory is hazy. Lately, perhaps due to stress, I keep getting breakouts on my chin, so I'm considering getting acne treatment again. However, I'm a total wimp, so my biggest worry is how intense the pain will be. The acne treatments I had in the past seemed to bring me to tears, but since the equipment has improved these days, I wonder if it might be less painful? If anyone has experience, please share your honest reviews. I'm really curious if the treatment is bearable if I use numbing cream! If it hurts too much, I might just give up...