In the 1800's Botulism disease was discovered as a serious form of food poisoning that resulted in muscle paralysis leading to death. Clostridium botulinum is a gram-positive bacillus; it is the toxin produced by this organism that was identified as the etiologic agent of botulism.

A total of 7 serotypes of botulinum toxin have been identified and each type has different properties. Serotype A and B are the only 2 types that are used clinically. Botulinum toxin type A is the most common botulinum toxin used in aesthetic clinical practice.

Research on botulism eventually lead to the development of diluting the poison to treat hypermotility disorders. Clinical use of botulinum toxin, first became apparent in the treatment of strabismus and has been used in a slew of muscular hyperactivity conditions since then. The first scientific study using botulinum toxin for aesthetics was in 1992 when a Canadian couple injected the toxin for aesthetic treatment of the glabellar region.