I use a brush and brush them out to where I want them to lay and dry them that way using the brush to add some lift (but not like kimmy gibler on full house). If they look a little too big or poufy, then I'll use a flat iron to make them lay a little more flat. Like xlana, I have my bangs cut to about my eyebrow because they seem to grow out to just where I like them within a few weeks. My bangs definitely aren't sparse but they don't take up half my head either - it took a couple times of getting them trimmed and shaped until they were just right.
Be sure to post pictures after you get them done!
ETA: To answer your other question... there are tons of ways to wear side swept bangs - if they are cut just right you can wear them as a more blunt bang (usually in the first week or so if you get them cut to eyebrow level), a side bang, clip them back in a pompadour, dry them so you can't really tell you have any bangs, push them back behind a headband, leave them in front of a headband - all different looks. Bangs can be so versatile and really change a person's whole face/look.