About Elite Laser & Skin Spa

Gunnar Thors MD, FACS is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as the American Board of Surgery. Please read on for more information about his certifications, society memberships and honors.

Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) means that the surgeon has completed medical school, an approved general surgery residency of at least three years, and an approved plastic surgery residency of an additional two to three years. Board certification then is obtained only after the candidate has been in plastic surgery practice for at least two years and has passed rigorous written and oral examinations.

Education, Training & Certifications

Undergraduate Education:

BA General Science, Grinnell College

Medical Degree:

University of Iceland Medical School

Graduate Training:

University of Iceland affiliated Hospitals

Rotating Internships in Emergency Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine

District Medical Doctor (locum tenens)

Keflavik Health Center, Keflavik, Iceland

General Surgery Residency:

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Plastic Surgery Residency:

Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Board Certification:

American Board of Plastic Surgery

Certificate of Re-certification for Plastic Surgery, 2006

American Board of Surgery

Fellow:

American College of Surgeons

Member:

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Illinois Society of Plastic Surgeons

Chicago Medical Society

Illinois State Medical Society

Icelandic Medical Association

DeAnna graduated from HP Skin Academy with her esthetics license in 2003. For six years, she served as a Patient Coordinator and Head of Esthetics for esteemed Plastic Surgeon Dr. Michael Horn off of Michigan Ave. With 22 years of dedication to skincare and her community, DeAnna opened Elite in 2009 to offer the Gold Coast experience in McHenry County. She is an Advanced Certified Laser Specialist, specializing in treatments such as Morpheus8, IPL/Photofacial, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal, and both Carbon and Pico Laser Facials. Additionally, she holds certifications in PCA Skin and Eminence skincare.

DeAnna has also been mentored to enhance her entrepreneurial skills and remains active in mentorship with the Tom Black Center.

At home, DeAnna has an adorable petite chihuahua named Coco and has recently rescued another charming chihuahua named Peanut. In her leisure time, she enjoys golfing and serves as VP of the ladies' 9-hole league. She is also Co-Chair for the BBBS Annual Swing for Kids Sake event and has joined the Board for BBBS of McHenry County, demonstrating her commitment to community service and philanthropy.

Follow on Instagram @beauty_and_birdies

Allie has been a Licensed Aesthetician since 2008, having studied at HP Skin Academy in West Dundee, Illinois. Her enthusiasm has always centered around lasers, and she is an Advanced Certified Laser Specialist. Allie focuses on treatments such as Morpheus8, IPL/Photofacial, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal, and Carbon & Pico Laser Facials. She holds certifications in PCA Skin and Eminence skincare.

Allie is dedicated to her profession both in the spa and within the community, leveraging her 18 years of industry expertise. In addition to her role as Clinic Manager, she has worked as a National Laser Educator. 

Allie is the mother of two boys, Lucas (17) and Hayden (13), and has a pug named Stella. She is passionate about skincare, and in her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, particularly her niece and nephews.

Follow on Instagram @skincare_mama_

Vanessa earned her esthetics degree from the Cosmetology and Spa Academy in Crystal Lake. As an Advanced Certified Laser Specialist, she specializes in treatments like Morpheus8, IPL/Photofacial, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal, as well as Carbon and Pico Laser Facials.

In addition to being certified in PRX-T33 and CryoSkin, she provides all the services available at Elite. Vanessa emphasizes skincare education through PCA Skin and Eminence Organic Skincare and is committed to informing her clients about the range of treatments offered. Results-oriented, she aims for her patients to feel self-assured in their skin. In 2022, she was elevated to Lead Aesthetician at Elite, focusing on ensuring that all estheticians uphold the clinic's core values and standards.

In September 2024, Vanessa married her middle school crush. She and her husband Jarod have two lab/poodle mixes named Geno and Layla. During her leisure time, Vanessa enjoys hanging out with family and friends. She is a proud aunt to her niece Ava and is excited to welcome a nephew soon!

Follow on Instagram @aestheticswithvv

Morpheus8

Laser Hair Removal

Certified in CryoSkin, PRX-T33, PCA Skin, and Eminence

Skin Care Queen!

Lisa has been with her boyfriend George for 10yrs. Together they have an adorable Pitbull/Lab Mix. In her free time, she likes spending time with family, doing makeup and watching scary movies.

Morpheus8

IPL/Photofacial

Laser Hair Removal

Tattoo Removal

Carbon & Pico Laser Facials Certified in CryoSkin, PRX-T33, PCA Skin, and Eminence

Allison is married to an amazing husband and dad, Arnie. They are parents to 2 remarkable boys, Jackson and Chase, and Allison is fortunate to have 2 fantastic stepdaughters, Hanna and Jessica. They have 4 adoring Chihuahuas. Allison enjoys hosting, cooking, shopping and doing interior design. Her most cherished role in life is being a mother.

Kacie completed her esthetics training at CSA Academy in September 2021 and was thrilled to launch her career at Elite, feeling like she hit the jackpot by starting with us immediately. She began her journey as a spa coordinator before moving into spa services, where she quickly thrived. Her rapid progress led her to more advanced treatments and laser procedures. Kacie is an Advanced Certified Laser Specialist, specializing in treatments like Morpheus8, IPL/Photofacial, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal, Carbon & Pico Laser Facials, CryoSkin, and PRX-T33. She is also well-versed in Elite's skincare products, including PCA Skin and Eminence Organics.

Kacie is dedicated to positively impacting her clients' lives, ensuring they feel at ease and boosting their confidence.

She is currently engaged to her lovely fiancé, Brandon, and they are raising their two cats together in Richmond. An animal lover at heart, Kacie enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending quality time with her family in her free time!

Kiley is a Licensed Aesthetician and Certified Permanent Cosmetic Artist. Kiley's journey started at Esthetics World Beauty in 2021. She went on to get her esthetics license from CSA Academy in 2022. She recently enhanced her PMU skills by learning new techniques from the amazing Linnie Phan. Kiley specializes in Brow Lamination, Lash Lifts, Brow Shaping, Facials, Microneedling, Hydrofacials and Waxing. She is also well-versed in Elite's skincare products, including PCA Skin and Eminence Organics.

Kiley prioritizes making each appointment a stress-free experience. 

What she enjoys most about her work is maintaining curiosity while exploring all the innovative tools and techniques available in the PMU industry. However, the true delight comes from witnessing the smiles and newfound confidence on her clients' faces after every treatment. She is excited to help you feel fabulous!

Kaitlyn has spent 5 years in the Med Spa industry, excelling in skincare during the day, tackling horror movies at night, and immersing herself in books whenever she can. In her leisure time, she loves to travel, hike, and hang out with her family and friends. She also has a 4-year-old Goldendoodle named Copper.

Aliyah loves skin care, so she found a great home in the beauty industry/spa world. Her real passion is doing anything creative, which is why she majored in communications at NIU. In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends and family.