My 6 year old daughter was diagnosed with rade 1 & 2 urinary reflux at 2 years old. She has been on low dose antibiotics since then. I'm not excited about it, but decided it was the best option. Here's what I discovered.
It's fairly common and most kids grow out of the condition. Unless it is very severe (grade 3 or more) and/or she's having a lot of breakthrough infections while on antibiotics, the surgery isn't necessary yet. Her urologist told me last year that some kids don't grow out of it until puberty and that he wouldn't recommend surgery until then if it didn't get any worse. As far as the surgery, it's "simple" as far as surgeries go, but any surgery carries risks of reactions to antibiotics and other complications.
I usually go the "natural" and homeopathic route with things, but here in Arkansas, there simply aren't any truly holistic practitioners who will treat children. I found one in Dallas who would see her in the office to eval and set her up on a regimine, but we'd have to do "emergency" type things over the phone.
Our daughter was first diagnosed while admitted to the hospital with SEVERE kidney infection. Thankfully she doesn't have any scarring, which is very possible with any kidney infection. Worse yet, she got sick very quickly, with no warning signs. In fact, other than the occasional "cold" I'm not sure she had ever been sick in her life before that.
At least for me, comparing trying natural therapy primarily by phone with the risk of another infection, and long term use of antibiotics to prevent another infection that lands her in the hospital on IV's, I chose the antibiotics. You might choose differently, there are natural treatments out there, just none with any local support in Arkansas.
Best wishes!