If you want to let the pierced area close up, it's best to go to a professional body piercer to have the belly button ring removed. If you try to remove it yourself, you could wind up with an infection. Once the ring has been removed, be sure to keep the area clean. Wash the area with a liquid, antibacterial soap, twice a day. Be sure to rinse carefully. As for the amount of time it will take for the hole to close, it varies with the individual. It can take a few weeks or as long as a year. When the hole closes, it's likely to leave a telltale mark that looks like a large pore.