My experience was much like Broncorod's. When I interviewed my surgeon, he told me that although he has done both standard and minimally invasive surgeries, his preference was the full sternotomy so that he has best access to the heart and can see all around it. As things progressed, I found that we would also be doing a bypass, which then required a full sternotomy. When I discussed this with my surgeon, he said that he would cut through my entire sternum but would keep the surface incision as small as possible to minimize scarring. He was/is as good as his word. Although I had a full median sternotomy, my incision is only about 4 inches long, and runs slightly at an angle with the top off-center. This way, if I'm wearing an open-collared shirt during the summer, my scar doesn't show.
This surgeon (see my signature line) was so good, as were his teammates, that had I not needed a pacemaker, at 3 1/2 years out, my scars are nearly invisible. The only really visible reminder of my heart journey is the lump made by my pacemaker.
So, the recovery is pretty much the same. If your surgeon can make you comfortable regarding how much or how little scarring you can expect, why not pick your surgeon and let him/her pick the approach to be used.