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Piercing While Not in Uniform Members are prohibited from attaching, affixing or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, or any exposed body part (includes visible through clothing).
To keep the piercing tract open, you can replace this jewelry with a piece of safe, inert plastic known as a piercing retainer. You can also leave the piercing empty. However, this may cause the hole to close. It can take anywhere from nine months to a year for a belly button piercing to fully heal.
What piercings are allowed in the Air Force?
Unauthorized Tattoos and Brands Those in the Air Force are also not allowed to have any visible piercing while in uniform. This includes piercings of the ears, nose, tongue or any other body part that is not covered by or can be seen through clothing.
If you realize right away that your new notch is not for you, it’s likely to close on its own. “When you get a piercing, it takes four to six weeks for it to heal up, after which time the hole can be permanent,” says New York dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD.
You may want to use a stretchy, elastic bandage to hold an eye patch over your belly button and protect the area. Stay out of lakes, hot tubs, and pools. A waterproof bandage may help, but it’s best to avoid any water that may not be clean and could cause an infection.
Should I let my belly button piercing close up?
The time to close up a hole is not when the piercing is infected. While you may think that removing jewelry seems like a good idea when the infection has set in, it’s not. Dermatologists caution against removal as the infection can get trapped if the hole closes.