my 18 month old got this after she was a month old- and it is very noticeable and it is on her forehead as well,
I cannot tell you the amount of times that i get asked "oh, how did she get that bruise" or "oh, you took quite a fall didn't you" and bad looks like i am neglectful.
It made/makes me crazy. Even doctors she sees over and over have asked me about it and i have to remind them about her having it. I even started taking photos of it because i get asked THAT much about her "bruise" and do not want anyone thinking anything.
i was told it would go away by the time she was 18 months. It hAS faded a little, not the dark purple color it was- but i hate it too. I took LOTS of photos with hats, and even started putting light concealer on it, not because I MINDED her having it, but i got sick of people not seeing HER, just the mark.
Her bangs grew and cover it now, but it is a pain. I feel for you, and her. My first daughter did not have it.
they say they usually disappear by age 3-5 and i hope so, but it is a non issue now that she has bangs.
I would think of avoiding the surgery- only because there are so many risks with anesthesia, infection in hospitals, etc. Time will make it fade. You have to kind of go into situations knowing u will be asked- but surgery only helps YOU, not her- if you know what I mean. For little ones, I try to opt OUT of surgery- having had to do a different surgery on the little one (with the hemangioma) that was totally necessary- was still VERY hard on us and on her. Time will fade it, safely.
Good luck,. I know it is frustrating, but feel free to email me privately, i can share some photos with you to show you how it faded over the 18 months.