12yo boy - puberty - sightly puffy areola - is it normal?

[SnoopyLights]

DS is 12 and going through puberty, we're seeing all the expected things, but one thing has thrown me a bit and I don't know if it's 'normal'.

His left areola is puffy looking, a little bit raised around the nipple. His right areola is completely flat. Both the same colour. He says it doesn't hurt.

Is it normal for one side to be a bit puffy and raised on the areola?

Male puberty is entirely new to me, DH is useless and says he can't remember much about it. I have already bought some books for DS about puberty but neither of them mention a single puffy nipple in them, although one has something about breast tissue if the hormone balance is off.

It's almost impossible to get a doctors appointment at the GP, and I'm torn between going and being told it's perfectly normal and not going and it turning out to be a 'thing'.

Completely normal

This is completely normal in both boys and girls.

Yup. He will probably grow out of it but it may take a few years. Its the hormone action on the tissues. If there is a lump or discharge, take him to the doctor, otherwise just ignore

Thank you.

I don't think I would have worried at all if it had been both of them, but with it just being one I was a bit worried.

And I made the mistake of googling, nothing looked like his, and there were some quite alarming photos.

There's no lump or discharge either, so I'll just try and keep a discrete eye on it and tell him to let me know if he notices anything that worries him as well.

Perfectly normal and fairly common.

I developed gynecomastia around that age, one side was much more pronounced at first.