Botox cosmetic drug. Hypodermic needle in a bottle of botox. Botox is a neurotoxin used cosmetically for preventing wrinkles and smoothing the skin. The toxin, Botulinum Toxin Type A, is obtained from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Small amounts of the solution are injected into facial muscles. This paralyses the muscles, which has the effect of smoothing wrinkles. The toxin was first identified as a cause of botulism, a form of bacterial food poisoning that can lead to paralysis and death. The botox treatment uses far less toxin than the lethal dose. One treatment may last for three to six months.